Handwriting keyboard for screens

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure generally relates to handwriting on touch sensitive surfaces. In some examples, text suggestions strokes entered on a touch sensitive surface are viewed and selected in response to a rotatable input mechanism. In some examples, text determined from a set of strokes on the touch sensitive surface is revised based on a subsequently entered stroke on the touch sensitive surface. In some examples, a determination is made whether to include a stroke in a set of strokes based a time between the stroke and the previous stroke. In some examples, determining text based on a set of stroke is interrupted to determined revised text based on the set of strokes and a second stroke.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/265,676, entitled “HANDWRITING KEYBOARD FOR SCREENS,” filed Feb. 1,2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/614,276, entitled “HANDWRITING KEYBOARD FOR SCREENS,” filed Jun. 5,2017, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application62/349,111, entitled “HANDWRITING KEYBOARD FOR SMALL SCREENS,” filedJun. 12, 2016, the content of which are hereby incorporated by referencein their entireties.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to computer user interfaces,and more specifically to techniques for handwriting on small screens.

BACKGROUND

Wearable electronic devices often have display screens for displayinginformation and allowing for a minimal amount of interface with theelectronic device and content stored thereon.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Some of these wearable devices include touch sensitive surfaces, but thescreens are of such small size that it is difficult to enter text on thedevice directly. Other methods of data entry, such as dictation arepossible but have downsides as well. In the case of messaging,predefined messages are of some use for are only appropriate when one ofthe limited number of predefined messages applies the current situation.

Some techniques for handwriting on small screens using electronicdevices, however, are generally cumbersome and inefficient. For example,some existing techniques use a complex and time-consuming userinterface, which may include multiple key presses or keystrokes.Existing techniques require more time than necessary, wasting user timeand device energy. This latter consideration is particularly importantin battery-operated devices.

Accordingly, the present technique provides electronic devices withfaster, more efficient methods and interfaces for handwriting on smallscreens. Such methods and interfaces optionally complement or replaceother methods for handwriting on small screens. Such methods andinterfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a moreefficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated computingdevices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase thetime between battery charges. For example, techniques described belowprovide for more efficient recognition of handwriting entered through atouch sensitive surface by allowing for revision of already recognizedtext, both manually and automatically, intelligent gathering andprocessing of stroke inputs, and recognition of when strokes inputsbelong to a current character or a next character.

In accordance with an embodiment, at a portable electronic device havingone or more processors, a touch sensitive surface, a display, and arotatable input mechanism: displaying a user input interface on thedisplay including a message area and a stroke input area; receiving afirst set of strokes on the touch sensitive surface in the stroke inputarea; determining first text based on the first set of strokes;displaying the first text on the display in the message area;determining one or more suggestions based on the first text, wherein theone or more suggestions include one or more changes to the first text;after determining the one or more suggestions, receiving user input viathe rotatable input mechanism; in response to the user input: displayingat least one of the one or more suggestions; and displaying a selectionindicator indicating a selected suggestion of the one or moresuggestions; and after displaying the at least one or the one or moresuggestions and the selection indicator, replacing display of the firsttext with display of the selected suggestion.

An embodiment of a transitory computer-readable storage medium storesone or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processorsof a portable electronic device with a touch sensitive surface, adisplay, and a rotatable input mechanism, the one or more programsincluding instructions for: displaying a user input interface on thedisplay including a message area and a stroke input area; receiving afirst set of strokes on the touch sensitive surface in the stroke inputarea; determining first text based on the first set of strokes;displaying the first text on the display in the message area;determining one or more suggestions based on the first text, wherein theone or more suggestions include one or more changes to the first text;after determining the one or more suggestions, receiving user input viathe rotatable input mechanism; in response to the user input: displayingat least one of the one or more suggestions; and displaying a selectionindicator indicating a selected suggestion of the one or moresuggestions; and after displaying the at least one or the one or moresuggestions and the selection indicator, replacing display of the firsttext with display of the selected suggestion.

In accordance with an embodiment, at an electronic device having one ormore processors, a touch sensitive surface, a display, and a rotatableinput mechanism: displaying a user input interface on the displayincluding a message area and a stroke input area; receiving a first setof strokes on the touch sensitive surface in the stroke input area;determining first text based on the first set of strokes; displaying thefirst text in the message area; receiving a second set of strokes on thetouch sensitive surface in the stroke input area after receiving thefirst set of strokes and displaying the first text; determining revisedfirst text based on the first set and second set of strokes; andreplacing the display of the first text with the revised first text.

An embodiment of a transitory computer-readable storage medium storesone or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processorsof an electronic device with a touch sensitive surface, a display, and arotatable input mechanism, the one or more programs includinginstructions for: displaying a user input interface on the displayincluding a message area and a stroke input area; receiving a first setof strokes on the touch sensitive surface in the stroke input area;determining first text based on the first set of strokes; displaying thefirst text in the message area; receiving a second set of strokes on thetouch sensitive surface in the stroke input area after receiving thefirst set of strokes and displaying the first text; determining revisedfirst text based on the first set and second set of strokes; andreplacing the display of the first text with the revised first text.

In accordance with an embodiment, at an electronic device having one ormore processors, a touch sensitive surface, a display, and a rotatableinput mechanism: displaying a user input interface on the displayincluding a message area and a stroke input area; receiving a first setof strokes on the touch sensitive surface in the stroke input area;starting to determine first text based on the first set of strokes;without displaying the first text in the message area, receiving asecond set of strokes on the touch sensitive surface in the stroke inputarea after receiving the first set of strokes; determining revised firsttext based on the first set and second set of strokes; and displayingthe revised first text in the message area.

An embodiment of a transitory computer-readable storage medium thatstores one or more programs configured to be executed by one or moreprocessors of an electronic device with a touch sensitive surface, adisplay, and a rotatable input mechanism, the one or more programsincluding instructions for: displaying a user input interface on thedisplay including a message area and a stroke input area; receiving afirst set of strokes on the touch sensitive surface in the stroke inputarea; starting to determine first text based on the first set ofstrokes; without displaying the first text in the message area,receiving a second set of strokes on the touch sensitive surface in thestroke input area after receiving the first set of strokes; determiningrevised first text based on the first set and second set of strokes; anddisplaying the revised first text in the message area.

In accordance with an embodiment, at an electronic device having one ormore processors, a touch sensitive surface, a display, and a rotatableinput mechanism: displaying a user input interface on the displayincluding a message area and a stroke input area; receiving, on thetouch sensitive surface in the stroke input area, a first stroke; at afirst time after receiving the first stroke, receiving on the touchsensitive surface a second stroke, wherein the second stroke is distinctfrom the first stroke; determining whether the first time exceeds athreshold time; in accordance with a determination that the first timeexceeds the threshold time, determining a first character based on thefirst stroke but not the second stroke; in accordance with adetermination that the first time is less than the threshold time,determining a first character based on the first stroke and the secondstroke; and displaying the first character in the message area.

An embodiment of a transitory computer-readable storage medium storesone or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processorsof an electronic device with a touch sensitive surface, a display, and arotatable input mechanism, the one or more programs includinginstructions for: displaying a user input interface on the displayincluding a message area and a stroke input area; receiving, on thetouch sensitive surface in the stroke input area, a first stroke; at afirst time after receiving the first stroke, receiving on the touchsensitive surface a second stroke, wherein the second stroke is distinctfrom the first stroke; determining whether the first time exceeds athreshold time; in accordance with a determination that the first timeexceeds the threshold time, determining a first character based on thefirst stroke but not the second stroke; in accordance with adetermination that the first time is less than the threshold time,determining a first character based on the first stroke and the secondstroke; and displaying the first character in the message area.

Executable instructions for performing these functions are, optionally,included in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium or othercomputer program product configured for execution by one or moreprocessors. Executable instructions for performing these functions are,optionally, included in a transitory computer-readable storage medium orother computer program product configured for execution by one or moreprocessors.

Thus, devices are provided with faster, more efficient methods andinterfaces for handwriting on small screens, thereby increasing theeffectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction with such devices. Suchmethods and interfaces may complement or replace other methods forhandwriting on small screens.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For a better understanding of the various described embodiments,reference should be made to the Description of Embodiments below, inconjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numeralsrefer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a portable multifunction devicewith a touch-sensitive display in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components for eventhandling in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portable multifunction device having a touch screenin accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary multifunction device with adisplay and a touch-sensitive surface in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary user interface for a menu ofapplications on a portable multifunction device in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary user interface for a multifunctiondevice with a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from the displayin accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5A illustrates a personal electronic device in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 5B is a block diagram illustrating a personal electronic device inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 6A-6R illustrate exemplary user interfaces for handwriting onscreens.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for handwriting on atouch sensitive surface.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary functional block diagram of an electronicdevice.

FIGS. 9A-9I illustrate exemplary user interfaces for handwriting onscreens.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for handwriting on atouch sensitive surface.

FIG. 11 shows an exemplary functional block diagram of an electronicdevice.

FIGS. 12A-12L illustrate exemplary user interfaces for handwriting onscreens.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for handwriting on atouch sensitive surface.

FIG. 14 shows an exemplary functional block diagram of an electronicdevice.

FIG. 15A-15J illustrate exemplary user interfaces for handwriting onscreens.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for handwriting on atouch sensitive surface.

FIG. 17 shows an exemplary functional block diagram of an electronicdevice.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following description sets forth exemplary methods, parameters, andthe like. It should be recognized, however, that such description is notintended as a limitation on the scope of the present disclosure but isinstead provided as a description of exemplary embodiments.

There is a need for electronic devices that provide efficient methodsand interfaces for handwriting on small screens. For example, wearabledevices with small touch sensitive surfaces allow for access andnavigation of some content and data, but these screens are presentlydifficult to use when entering textual data directly. Techniquesdescribed herein provide for better handwriting entry on to touchsensitive surfaces, particularly touch sensitive surfaces with smallsizes. Such techniques can reduce the cognitive burden on a user whoenters handwriting on small screens, thereby enhancing productivity.Further, such techniques can reduce processor and battery powerotherwise wasted on redundant user inputs.

Below, FIGS. 1A-1B, 2, 3, 4A-4B, and 5A-5H provide a description ofexemplary devices for performing the techniques for managing eventnotifications. FIGS. 6A-6R illustrate exemplary user interfaces formanaging event notifications. FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustratingmethods of managing event notifications in accordance with someembodiments. The user interfaces in FIGS. 6A-6Rare used to illustratethe processes described below, including the processes in FIG. 7.

FIGS. 9A-6I illustrate exemplary user interfaces for managing eventnotifications. FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating methods ofmanaging event notifications in accordance with some embodiments. Theuser interfaces in FIGS. 9A-6I are used to illustrate the processesdescribed below, including the processes in FIG. 10.

FIGS. 12A-12L illustrate exemplary user interfaces for managing eventnotifications. FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating methods ofmanaging event notifications in accordance with some embodiments. Theuser interfaces in FIGS. 12A-12L are used to illustrate the processesdescribed below, including the processes in FIG. 13.

FIGS. 15A-15J illustrate exemplary user interfaces for managing eventnotifications. FIG. 16 is a flow diagram illustrating methods ofmanaging event notifications in accordance with some embodiments. Theuser interfaces in FIGS. 15A-15J are used to illustrate the processesdescribed below, including the processes in FIG. 16.

Although the following description uses terms “first,” “second,” etc. todescribe various elements, these elements should not be limited by theterms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element fromanother. For example, a first touch could be termed a second touch, and,similarly, a second touch could be termed a first touch, withoutdeparting from the scope of the various described embodiments. The firsttouch and the second touch are both touches, but they are not the sametouch.

The terminology used in the description of the various describedembodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in thedescription of the various described embodiments and the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to includethe plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as usedherein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items. It will be furtherunderstood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or“comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof.

The term “if” is, optionally, construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “inresponse to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on thecontext. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a statedcondition or event] is detected” is, optionally, construed to mean “upondetermining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [thestated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the statedcondition or event],” depending on the context.

Embodiments of electronic devices, user interfaces for such devices, andassociated processes for using such devices are described. In someembodiments, the device is a portable communications device, such as amobile telephone, that also contains other functions, such as PDA and/ormusic player functions. Exemplary embodiments of portable multifunctiondevices include, without limitation, the iPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad®devices from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Other portable electronicdevices, such as laptops or tablet computers with touch-sensitivesurfaces (e.g., touch screen displays and/or touchpads), are,optionally, used. It should also be understood that, in someembodiments, the device is not a portable communications device, but isa desktop computer with a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touch screendisplay and/or a touchpad).

In the discussion that follows, an electronic device that includes adisplay and a touch-sensitive surface is described. It should beunderstood, however, that the electronic device optionally includes oneor more other physical user-interface devices, such as a physicalkeyboard, a mouse, and/or a joystick.

The device typically supports a variety of applications, such as one ormore of the following: a drawing application, a presentationapplication, a word processing application, a website creationapplication, a disk authoring application, a spreadsheet application, agaming application, a telephone application, a video conferencingapplication, an e-mail application, an instant messaging application, aworkout support application, a photo management application, a digitalcamera application, a digital video camera application, a web browsingapplication, a digital music player application, and/or a digital videoplayer application.

The various applications that are executed on the device optionally useat least one common physical user-interface device, such as thetouch-sensitive surface. One or more functions of the touch-sensitivesurface as well as corresponding information displayed on the deviceare, optionally, adjusted and/or varied from one application to the nextand/or within a respective application. In this way, a common physicalarchitecture (such as the touch-sensitive surface) of the deviceoptionally supports the variety of applications with user interfacesthat are intuitive and transparent to the user.

Attention is now directed toward embodiments of portable devices withtouch-sensitive displays. FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustratingportable multifunction device 100 with touch-sensitive display system112 in accordance with some embodiments. Touch-sensitive display 112 issometimes called a “touch screen” for convenience and is sometimes knownas or called a “touch-sensitive display system.” Device 100 includesmemory 102 (which optionally includes one or more computer-readablestorage mediums), memory controller 122, one or more processing units(CPUs) 120, peripherals interface 118, RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry110, speaker 111, microphone 113, input/output (I/O) subsystem 106,other input control devices 116, and external port 124. Device 100optionally includes one or more optical sensors 164. Device 100optionally includes one or more contact intensity sensors 165 fordetecting intensity of contacts on device 100 (e.g., a touch-sensitivesurface such as touch-sensitive display system 112 of device 100).Device 100 optionally includes one or more tactile output generators 167for generating tactile outputs on device 100 (e.g., generating tactileoutputs on a touch-sensitive surface such as touch-sensitive displaysystem 112 of device 100 or touchpad 355 of device 300). Thesecomponents optionally communicate over one or more communication busesor signal lines 103.

As used in the specification and claims, the term “intensity” of acontact on a touch-sensitive surface refers to the force or pressure(force per unit area) of a contact (e.g., a finger contact) on thetouch-sensitive surface, or to a substitute (proxy) for the force orpressure of a contact on the touch-sensitive surface. The intensity of acontact has a range of values that includes at least four distinctvalues and more typically includes hundreds of distinct values (e.g., atleast 256). Intensity of a contact is, optionally, determined (ormeasured) using various approaches and various sensors or combinationsof sensors. For example, one or more force sensors underneath oradjacent to the touch-sensitive surface are, optionally, used to measureforce at various points on the touch-sensitive surface. In someimplementations, force measurements from multiple force sensors arecombined (e.g., a weighted average) to determine an estimated force of acontact. Similarly, a pressure-sensitive tip of a stylus is, optionally,used to determine a pressure of the stylus on the touch-sensitivesurface. Alternatively, the size of the contact area detected on thetouch-sensitive surface and/or changes thereto, the capacitance of thetouch-sensitive surface proximate to the contact and/or changes thereto,and/or the resistance of the touch-sensitive surface proximate to thecontact and/or changes thereto are, optionally, used as a substitute forthe force or pressure of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface. Insome implementations, the substitute measurements for contact force orpressure are used directly to determine whether an intensity thresholdhas been exceeded (e.g., the intensity threshold is described in unitscorresponding to the substitute measurements). In some implementations,the substitute measurements for contact force or pressure are convertedto an estimated force or pressure, and the estimated force or pressureis used to determine whether an intensity threshold has been exceeded(e.g., the intensity threshold is a pressure threshold measured in unitsof pressure). Using the intensity of a contact as an attribute of a userinput allows for user access to additional device functionality that mayotherwise not be accessible by the user on a reduced-size device withlimited real estate for displaying affordances (e.g., on atouch-sensitive display) and/or receiving user input (e.g., via atouch-sensitive display, a touch-sensitive surface, or aphysical/mechanical control such as a knob or a button).

As used in the specification and claims, the term “tactile output”refers to physical displacement of a device relative to a previousposition of the device, physical displacement of a component (e.g., atouch-sensitive surface) of a device relative to another component(e.g., housing) of the device, or displacement of the component relativeto a center of mass of the device that will be detected by a user withthe user's sense of touch. For example, in situations where the deviceor the component of the device is in contact with a surface of a userthat is sensitive to touch (e.g., a finger, palm, or other part of auser's hand), the tactile output generated by the physical displacementwill be interpreted by the user as a tactile sensation corresponding toa perceived change in physical characteristics of the device or thecomponent of the device. For example, movement of a touch-sensitivesurface (e.g., a touch-sensitive display or trackpad) is, optionally,interpreted by the user as a “down click” or “up click” of a physicalactuator button. In some cases, a user will feel a tactile sensationsuch as an “down click” or “up click” even when there is no movement ofa physical actuator button associated with the touch-sensitive surfacethat is physically pressed (e.g., displaced) by the user's movements. Asanother example, movement of the touch-sensitive surface is, optionally,interpreted or sensed by the user as “roughness” of the touch-sensitivesurface, even when there is no change in smoothness of thetouch-sensitive surface. While such interpretations of touch by a userwill be subject to the individualized sensory perceptions of the user,there are many sensory perceptions of touch that are common to a largemajority of users. Thus, when a tactile output is described ascorresponding to a particular sensory perception of a user (e.g., an “upclick,” a “down click,” “roughness”), unless otherwise stated, thegenerated tactile output corresponds to physical displacement of thedevice or a component thereof that will generate the described sensoryperception for a typical (or average) user.

It should be appreciated that device 100 is only one example of aportable multifunction device, and that device 100 optionally has moreor fewer components than shown, optionally combines two or morecomponents, or optionally has a different configuration or arrangementof the components. The various components shown in FIG. 1A areimplemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both hardware andsoftware, including one or more signal processing and/orapplication-specific integrated circuits.

Memory 102 optionally includes high-speed random access memory andoptionally also includes non-volatile memory, such as one or moremagnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or othernon-volatile solid-state memory devices. Memory controller 122optionally controls access to memory 102 by other components of device100.

Peripherals interface 118 can be used to couple input and outputperipherals of the device to CPU 120 and memory 102. The one or moreprocessors 120 run or execute various software programs and/or sets ofinstructions stored in memory 102 to perform various functions fordevice 100 and to process data. In some embodiments, peripheralsinterface 118, CPU 120, and memory controller 122 are, optionally,implemented on a single chip, such as chip 104. In some otherembodiments, they are, optionally, implemented on separate chips.

RF (radio frequency) circuitry 108 receives and sends RF signals, alsocalled electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 108 converts electricalsignals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates withcommunications networks and other communications devices via theelectromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 108 optionally includes well-knowncircuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited toan antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner,one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, asubscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory, and so forth. RFcircuitry 108 optionally communicates with networks, such as theInternet, also referred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), an intranetand/or a wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, awireless local area network (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network(MAN), and other devices by wireless communication. The RF circuitry 108optionally includes well-known circuitry for detecting near fieldcommunication (NFC) fields, such as by a short-range communicationradio. The wireless communication optionally uses any of a plurality ofcommunications standards, protocols, and technologies, including but notlimited to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced DataGSM Environment (EDGE), high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA),high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), Evolution, Data-Only (EV-DO),HSPA, HSPA+, Dual-Cell HSPA (DC-HSPDA), long term evolution (LTE), nearfield communication (NFC), wideband code division multiple access(W-CDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multipleaccess (TDMA), Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE), Wireless Fidelity(Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n,and/or IEEE 802.11ac), voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, aprotocol for e-mail (e.g., Internet message access protocol (IMAP)and/or post office protocol (POP)), instant messaging (e.g., extensiblemessaging and presence protocol (XMPP), Session Initiation Protocol forInstant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE), InstantMessaging and Presence Service (IMPS)), and/or Short Message Service(SMS), or any other suitable communication protocol, includingcommunication protocols not yet developed as of the filing date of thisdocument.

Audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, and microphone 113 provide an audiointerface between a user and device 100. Audio circuitry 110 receivesaudio data from peripherals interface 118, converts the audio data to anelectrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to speaker 111.Speaker 111 converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves.Audio circuitry 110 also receives electrical signals converted bymicrophone 113 from sound waves. Audio circuitry 110 converts theelectrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data toperipherals interface 118 for processing. Audio data is, optionally,retrieved from and/or transmitted to memory 102 and/or RF circuitry 108by peripherals interface 118. In some embodiments, audio circuitry 110also includes a headset jack (e.g., 212, FIG. 2). The headset jackprovides an interface between audio circuitry 110 and removable audioinput/output peripherals, such as output-only headphones or a headsetwith both output (e.g., a headphone for one or both ears) and input(e.g., a microphone).

I/O subsystem 106 couples input/output peripherals on device 100, suchas touch screen 112 and other input control devices 116, to peripheralsinterface 118. I/O subsystem 106 optionally includes display controller156, optical sensor controller 158, intensity sensor controller 159,haptic feedback controller 161, and one or more input controllers 160for other input or control devices. The one or more input controllers160 receive/send electrical signals from/to other input control devices116. The other input control devices 116 optionally include physicalbuttons (e.g., push buttons, rocker buttons, etc.), dials, sliderswitches, joysticks, click wheels, and so forth. In some alternateembodiments, input controller(s) 160 are, optionally, coupled to any (ornone) of the following: a keyboard, an infrared port, a USB port, and apointer device such as a mouse. The one or more buttons (e.g., 208, FIG.2) optionally include an up/down button for volume control of speaker111 and/or microphone 113. The one or more buttons optionally include apush button (e.g., 206, FIG. 2).

A quick press of the push button optionally disengages a lock of touchscreen 112 or optionally begins a process that uses gestures on thetouch screen to unlock the device, as described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/322,549, “Unlocking a Device by PerformingGestures on an Unlock Image,” filed Dec. 23, 2005, U.S. Pat. No.7,657,849, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Alonger press of the push button (e.g., 206) optionally turns power todevice 100 on or off. The functionality of one or more of the buttonsis, optionally, user-customizable. Touch screen 112 is used to implementvirtual or soft buttons and one or more soft keyboards.

Touch-sensitive display 112 provides an input interface and an outputinterface between the device and a user. Display controller 156 receivesand/or sends electrical signals from/to touch screen 112. Touch screen112 displays visual output to the user. The visual output optionallyincludes graphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof(collectively termed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some or all ofthe visual output optionally corresponds to user-interface objects.

Touch screen 112 has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor, or set ofsensors that accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactilecontact. Touch screen 112 and display controller 156 (along with anyassociated modules and/or sets of instructions in memory 102) detectcontact (and any movement or breaking of the contact) on touch screen112 and convert the detected contact into interaction withuser-interface objects (e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages,or images) that are displayed on touch screen 112. In an exemplaryembodiment, a point of contact between touch screen 112 and the usercorresponds to a finger of the user.

Touch screen 112 optionally uses LCD (liquid crystal display)technology, LPD (light emitting polymer display) technology, or LED(light emitting diode) technology, although other display technologiesare used in other embodiments. Touch screen 112 and display controller156 optionally detect contact and any movement or breaking thereof usingany of a plurality of touch sensing technologies now known or laterdeveloped, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared,and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximitysensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points ofcontact with touch screen 112. In an exemplary embodiment, projectedmutual capacitance sensing technology is used, such as that found in theiPhone® and iPod Touch® from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.

A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of touch screen 112 is,optionally, analogous to the multi-touch sensitive touchpads describedin the following U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,846 (Westerman et al.), U.S. Pat.No. 6,570,557 (Westerman et al.), and/or U.S. Pat. No. 6,677,932(Westerman), and/or U.S. Patent Publication 2002/0015024A1, each ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. However,touch screen 112 displays visual output from device 100, whereastouch-sensitive touchpads do not provide visual output.

A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of touch screen 112 isdescribed in the following applications: (1) U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/381,313, “Multipoint Touch Surface Controller,” filed May 2,2006; (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/840,862, “MultipointTouchscreen,” filed May 6, 2004; (3) U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/903,964, “Gestures For Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jul. 30,2004; (4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/048,264, “Gestures ForTouch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jan. 31, 2005; (5) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/038,590, “Mode-Based Graphical User InterfacesFor Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jan. 18, 2005; (6) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/228,758, “Virtual Input Device Placement On ATouch Screen User Interface,” filed Sep. 16, 2005; (7) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/228,700, “Operation Of A Computer With A TouchScreen Interface,” filed Sep. 16, 2005; (8) U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/228,737, “Activating Virtual Keys Of A Touch-Screen VirtualKeyboard,” filed Sep. 16, 2005; and (9) U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/367,749, “Multi-Functional Hand-Held Device,” filed Mar. 3, 2006. Allof these applications are incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

Touch screen 112 optionally has a video resolution in excess of 100 dpi.In some embodiments, the touch screen has a video resolution ofapproximately 160 dpi. The user optionally makes contact with touchscreen 112 using any suitable object or appendage, such as a stylus, afinger, and so forth. In some embodiments, the user interface isdesigned to work primarily with finger-based contacts and gestures,which can be less precise than stylus-based input due to the larger areaof contact of a finger on the touch screen. In some embodiments, thedevice translates the rough finger-based input into a precisepointer/cursor position or command for performing the actions desired bythe user.

In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, device 100optionally includes a touchpad (not shown) for activating ordeactivating particular functions. In some embodiments, the touchpad isa touch-sensitive area of the device that, unlike the touch screen, doesnot display visual output. The touchpad is, optionally, atouch-sensitive surface that is separate from touch screen 112 or anextension of the touch-sensitive surface formed by the touch screen.

Device 100 also includes power system 162 for powering the variouscomponents. Power system 162 optionally includes a power managementsystem, one or more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current(AC)), a recharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a powerconverter or inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emittingdiode (LED)) and any other components associated with the generation,management and distribution of power in portable devices.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more optical sensors 164.FIG. 1A shows an optical sensor coupled to optical sensor controller 158in I/O subsystem 106. Optical sensor 164 optionally includescharge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor(CMOS) phototransistors. Optical sensor 164 receives light from theenvironment, projected through one or more lenses, and converts thelight to data representing an image. In conjunction with imaging module143 (also called a camera module), optical sensor 164 optionallycaptures still images or video. In some embodiments, an optical sensoris located on the back of device 100, opposite touch screen display 112on the front of the device so that the touch screen display is enabledfor use as a viewfinder for still and/or video image acquisition. Insome embodiments, an optical sensor is located on the front of thedevice so that the user's image is, optionally, obtained for videoconferencing while the user views the other video conferenceparticipants on the touch screen display. In some embodiments, theposition of optical sensor 164 can be changed by the user (e.g., byrotating the lens and the sensor in the device housing) so that a singleoptical sensor 164 is used along with the touch screen display for bothvideo conferencing and still and/or video image acquisition.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more contact intensitysensors 165. FIG. 1A shows a contact intensity sensor coupled tointensity sensor controller 159 in I/O subsystem 106. Contact intensitysensor 165 optionally includes one or more piezoresistive strain gauges,capacitive force sensors, electric force sensors, piezoelectric forcesensors, optical force sensors, capacitive touch-sensitive surfaces, orother intensity sensors (e.g., sensors used to measure the force (orpressure) of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface). Contact intensitysensor 165 receives contact intensity information (e.g., pressureinformation or a proxy for pressure information) from the environment.In some embodiments, at least one contact intensity sensor is collocatedwith, or proximate to, a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., touch-sensitivedisplay system 112). In some embodiments, at least one contact intensitysensor is located on the back of device 100, opposite touch screendisplay 112, which is located on the front of device 100.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more proximity sensors 166.FIG. 1A shows proximity sensor 166 coupled to peripherals interface 118.Alternately, proximity sensor 166 is, optionally, coupled to inputcontroller 160 in I/O subsystem 106. Proximity sensor 166 optionallyperforms as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/241,839,“Proximity Detector In Handheld Device”; Ser. No. 11/240,788, “ProximityDetector In Handheld Device”; Ser. No. 11/620,702, “Using Ambient LightSensor To Augment Proximity Sensor Output”; Ser. No. 11/586,862,“Automated Response To And Sensing Of User Activity In PortableDevices”; and Ser. No. 11/638,251, “Methods And Systems For AutomaticConfiguration Of Peripherals,” which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety. In some embodiments, the proximity sensorturns off and disables touch screen 112 when the multifunction device isplaced near the user's ear (e.g., when the user is making a phone call).

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more tactile outputgenerators 167. FIG. 1A shows a tactile output generator coupled tohaptic feedback controller 161 in I/O subsystem 106. Tactile outputgenerator 167 optionally includes one or more electroacoustic devicessuch as speakers or other audio components and/or electromechanicaldevices that convert energy into linear motion such as a motor,solenoid, electroactive polymer, piezoelectric actuator, electrostaticactuator, or other tactile output generating component (e.g., acomponent that converts electrical signals into tactile outputs on thedevice). Contact intensity sensor 165 receives tactile feedbackgeneration instructions from haptic feedback module 133 and generatestactile outputs on device 100 that are capable of being sensed by a userof device 100. In some embodiments, at least one tactile outputgenerator is collocated with, or proximate to, a touch-sensitive surface(e.g., touch-sensitive display system 112) and, optionally, generates atactile output by moving the touch-sensitive surface vertically (e.g.,in/out of a surface of device 100) or laterally (e.g., back and forth inthe same plane as a surface of device 100). In some embodiments, atleast one tactile output generator sensor is located on the back ofdevice 100, opposite touch screen display 112, which is located on thefront of device 100.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more accelerometers 168. FIG.1A shows accelerometer 168 coupled to peripherals interface 118.Alternately, accelerometer 168 is, optionally, coupled to an inputcontroller 160 in I/O subsystem 106. Accelerometer 168 optionallyperforms as described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 20050190059,“Acceleration-based Theft Detection System for Portable ElectronicDevices,” and U.S. Patent Publication No. 20060017692, “Methods AndApparatuses For Operating A Portable Device Based On An Accelerometer,”both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. Insome embodiments, information is displayed on the touch screen displayin a portrait view or a landscape view based on an analysis of datareceived from the one or more accelerometers. Device 100 optionallyincludes, in addition to accelerometer(s) 168, a magnetometer (notshown) and a GPS (or GLONASS or other global navigation system) receiver(not shown) for obtaining information concerning the location andorientation (e.g., portrait or landscape) of device 100.

In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory 102include operating system 126, communication module (or set ofinstructions) 128, contact/motion module (or set of instructions) 130,graphics module (or set of instructions) 132, text input module (or setof instructions) 134, Global Positioning System (GPS) module (or set ofinstructions) 135, and applications (or sets of instructions) 136.Furthermore, in some embodiments, memory 102 (FIG. 1A) or 370 (FIG. 3)stores device/global internal state 157, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 3.Device/global internal state 157 includes one or more of: activeapplication state, indicating which applications, if any, are currentlyactive; display state, indicating what applications, views or otherinformation occupy various regions of touch screen display 112; sensorstate, including information obtained from the device's various sensorsand input control devices 116; and location information concerning thedevice's location and/or attitude.

Operating system 126 (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, iOS,WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includesvarious software components and/or drivers for controlling and managinggeneral system tasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control,power management, etc.) and facilitates communication between varioushardware and software components.

Communication module 128 facilitates communication with other devicesover one or more external ports 124 and also includes various softwarecomponents for handling data received by RF circuitry 108 and/orexternal port 124. External port 124 (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB),FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devices orindirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.). Insome embodiments, the external port is a multi-pin (e.g., 30-pin)connector that is the same as, or similar to and/or compatible with, the30-pin connector used on iPod® (trademark of Apple Inc.) devices.

Contact/motion module 130 optionally detects contact with touch screen112 (in conjunction with display controller 156) and othertouch-sensitive devices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel).Contact/motion module 130 includes various software components forperforming various operations related to detection of contact, such asdetermining if contact has occurred (e.g., detecting a finger-downevent), determining an intensity of the contact (e.g., the force orpressure of the contact or a substitute for the force or pressure of thecontact), determining if there is movement of the contact and trackingthe movement across the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., detecting one ormore finger-dragging events), and determining if the contact has ceased(e.g., detecting a finger-up event or a break in contact).Contact/motion module 130 receives contact data from the touch-sensitivesurface. Determining movement of the point of contact, which isrepresented by a series of contact data, optionally includes determiningspeed (magnitude), velocity (magnitude and direction), and/or anacceleration (a change in magnitude and/or direction) of the point ofcontact. These operations are, optionally, applied to single contacts(e.g., one finger contacts) or to multiple simultaneous contacts (e.g.,“multitouch”/multiple finger contacts). In some embodiments,contact/motion module 130 and display controller 156 detect contact on atouchpad.

In some embodiments, contact/motion module 130 uses a set of one or moreintensity thresholds to determine whether an operation has beenperformed by a user (e.g., to determine whether a user has “clicked” onan icon). In some embodiments, at least a subset of the intensitythresholds are determined in accordance with software parameters (e.g.,the intensity thresholds are not determined by the activation thresholdsof particular physical actuators and can be adjusted without changingthe physical hardware of device 100). For example, a mouse “click”threshold of a trackpad or touch screen display can be set to any of alarge range of predefined threshold values without changing the trackpador touch screen display hardware. Additionally, in some implementations,a user of the device is provided with software settings for adjustingone or more of the set of intensity thresholds (e.g., by adjustingindividual intensity thresholds and/or by adjusting a plurality ofintensity thresholds at once with a system-level click “intensity”parameter).

Contact/motion module 130 optionally detects a gesture input by a user.Different gestures on the touch-sensitive surface have different contactpatterns (e.g., different motions, timings, and/or intensities ofdetected contacts). Thus, a gesture is, optionally, detected bydetecting a particular contact pattern. For example, detecting a fingertap gesture includes detecting a finger-down event followed by detectinga finger-up (liftoff) event at the same position (or substantially thesame position) as the finger-down event (e.g., at the position of anicon). As another example, detecting a finger swipe gesture on thetouch-sensitive surface includes detecting a finger-down event followedby detecting one or more finger-dragging events, and subsequentlyfollowed by detecting a finger-up (liftoff) event.

Graphics module 132 includes various known software components forrendering and displaying graphics on touch screen 112 or other display,including components for changing the visual impact (e.g., brightness,transparency, saturation, contrast, or other visual property) ofgraphics that are displayed. As used herein, the term “graphics”includes any object that can be displayed to a user, including, withoutlimitation, text, web pages, icons (such as user-interface objectsincluding soft keys), digital images, videos, animations, and the like.

In some embodiments, graphics module 132 stores data representinggraphics to be used. Each graphic is, optionally, assigned acorresponding code. Graphics module 132 receives, from applicationsetc., one or more codes specifying graphics to be displayed along with,if necessary, coordinate data and other graphic property data, and thengenerates screen image data to output to display controller 156.

Haptic feedback module 133 includes various software components forgenerating instructions used by tactile output generator(s) 167 toproduce tactile outputs at one or more locations on device 100 inresponse to user interactions with device 100.

Text input module 134, which is, optionally, a component of graphicsmodule 132, provides soft keyboards for entering text in variousapplications (e.g., contacts 137, e-mail 140, IM 141, browser 147, andany other application that needs text input).

GPS module 135 determines the location of the device and provides thisinformation for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone 138 foruse in location-based dialing; to camera 143 as picture/video metadata;and to applications that provide location-based services such as weatherwidgets, local yellow page widgets, and map/navigation widgets).

Applications 136 optionally include the following modules (or sets ofinstructions), or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   Contacts module 137 (sometimes called an address book or contact        list);    -   Telephone module 138;    -   Video conference module 139;    -   E-mail client module 140;    -   Instant messaging (IM) module 141;    -   Workout support module 142;    -   Camera module 143 for still and/or video images;    -   Image management module 144;    -   Video player module;    -   Music player module;    -   Browser module 147;    -   Calendar module 148;    -   Widget modules 149, which optionally include one or more of:        weather widget 149-1, stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget        149-3, alarm clock widget 149-4, dictionary widget 149-5, and        other widgets obtained by the user, as well as user-created        widgets 149-6;    -   Widget creator module 150 for making user-created widgets 149-6;    -   Search module 151;    -   Video and music player module 152, which merges video player        module and music player module;    -   Notes module 153;    -   Map module 154; and/or    -   Online video module 155.

Examples of other applications 136 that are, optionally, stored inmemory 102 include other word processing applications, other imageediting applications, drawing applications, presentation applications,JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights management, voicerecognition, and voice replication.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156,contact/motion module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module134, contacts module 137 are, optionally, used to manage an address bookor contact list (e.g., stored in application internal state 192 ofcontacts module 137 in memory 102 or memory 370), including: addingname(s) to the address book; deleting name(s) from the address book;associating telephone number(s), e-mail address(es), physicaladdress(es) or other information with a name; associating an image witha name; categorizing and sorting names; providing telephone numbers ore-mail addresses to initiate and/or facilitate communications bytelephone 138, video conference module 139, e-mail 140, or IM 141; andso forth.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111,microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact/motionmodule 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, telephonemodule 138 are optionally, used to enter a sequence of characterscorresponding to a telephone number, access one or more telephonenumbers in contacts module 137, modify a telephone number that has beenentered, dial a respective telephone number, conduct a conversation, anddisconnect or hang up when the conversation is completed. As notedabove, the wireless communication optionally uses any of a plurality ofcommunications standards, protocols, and technologies.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111,microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller 156, optical sensor164, optical sensor controller 158, contact/motion module 130, graphicsmodule 132, text input module 134, contacts module 137, and telephonemodule 138, video conference module 139 includes executable instructionsto initiate, conduct, and terminate a video conference between a userand one or more other participants in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact/motion module 130, graphics module 132, and textinput module 134, e-mail client module 140 includes executableinstructions to create, send, receive, and manage e-mail in response touser instructions. In conjunction with image management module 144,e-mail client module 140 makes it very easy to create and send e-mailswith still or video images taken with camera module 143.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact/motion module 130, graphics module 132, and textinput module 134, the instant messaging module 141 includes executableinstructions to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to aninstant message, to modify previously entered characters, to transmit arespective instant message (for example, using a Short Message Service(SMS) or Multimedia Message Service (MMS) protocol for telephony-basedinstant messages or using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS for Internet-basedinstant messages), to receive instant messages, and to view receivedinstant messages. In some embodiments, transmitted and/or receivedinstant messages optionally include graphics, photos, audio files, videofiles and/or other attachments as are supported in an MMS and/or anEnhanced Messaging Service (EMS). As used herein, “instant messaging”refers to both telephony-based messages (e.g., messages sent using SMSor MMS) and Internet-based messages (e.g., messages sent using XMPP,SIMPLE, or IMPS).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact/motion module 130, graphics module 132, textinput module 134, GPS module 135, map module 154, and music playermodule, workout support module 142 includes executable instructions tocreate workouts (e.g., with time, distance, and/or calorie burninggoals); communicate with workout sensors (sports devices); receiveworkout sensor data; calibrate sensors used to monitor a workout; selectand play music for a workout; and display, store, and transmit workoutdata.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, opticalsensor(s) 164, optical sensor controller 158, contact/motion module 130,graphics module 132, and image management module 144, camera module 143includes executable instructions to capture still images or video(including a video stream) and store them into memory 102, modifycharacteristics of a still image or video, or delete a still image orvideo from memory 102.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156,contact/motion module 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134,and camera module 143, image management module 144 includes executableinstructions to arrange, modify (e.g., edit), or otherwise manipulate,label, delete, present (e.g., in a digital slide show or album), andstore still and/or video images.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact/motion module 130, graphics module 132, and textinput module 134, browser module 147 includes executable instructions tobrowse the Internet in accordance with user instructions, includingsearching, linking to, receiving, and displaying web pages or portionsthereof, as well as attachments and other files linked to web pages.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact/motion module 130, graphics module 132, textinput module 134, e-mail client module 140, and browser module 147,calendar module 148 includes executable instructions to create, display,modify, and store calendars and data associated with calendars (e.g.,calendar entries, to-do lists, etc.) in accordance with userinstructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact/motion module 130, graphics module 132, textinput module 134, and browser module 147, widget modules 149 aremini-applications that are, optionally, downloaded and used by a user(e.g., weather widget 149-1, stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget149-3, alarm clock widget 149-4, and dictionary widget 149-5) or createdby the user (e.g., user-created widget 149-6). In some embodiments, awidget includes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file, a CSS(Cascading Style Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file. In someembodiments, a widget includes an XML (Extensible Markup Language) fileand a JavaScript file (e.g., Yahoo! Widgets).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact/motion module 130, graphics module 132, textinput module 134, and browser module 147, the widget creator module 150are, optionally, used by a user to create widgets (e.g., turning auser-specified portion of a web page into a widget).

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156,contact/motion module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module134, search module 151 includes executable instructions to search fortext, music, sound, image, video, and/or other files in memory 102 thatmatch one or more search criteria (e.g., one or more user-specifiedsearch terms) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156,contact/motion module 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110,speaker 111, RF circuitry 108, and browser module 147, video and musicplayer module 152 includes executable instructions that allow the userto download and play back recorded music and other sound files stored inone or more file formats, such as MP3 or AAC files, and executableinstructions to display, present, or otherwise play back videos (e.g.,on touch screen 112 or on an external, connected display via externalport 124). In some embodiments, device 100 optionally includes thefunctionality of an MP3 player, such as an iPod (trademark of AppleInc.).

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156,contact/motion module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module134, notes module 153 includes executable instructions to create andmanage notes, to-do lists, and the like in accordance with userinstructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact/motion module 130, graphics module 132, textinput module 134, GPS module 135, and browser module 147, map module 154are, optionally, used to receive, display, modify, and store maps anddata associated with maps (e.g., driving directions, data on stores andother points of interest at or near a particular location, and otherlocation-based data) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156,contact/motion module 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110,speaker 111, RF circuitry 108, text input module 134, e-mail clientmodule 140, and browser module 147, online video module 155 includesinstructions that allow the user to access, browse, receive (e.g., bystreaming and/or download), play back (e.g., on the touch screen or onan external, connected display via external port 124), send an e-mailwith a link to a particular online video, and otherwise manage onlinevideos in one or more file formats, such as H.264. In some embodiments,instant messaging module 141, rather than e-mail client module 140, isused to send a link to a particular online video. Additional descriptionof the online video application can be found in U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/936,562, “Portable Multifunction Device, Method, andGraphical User Interface for Playing Online Videos,” filed Jun. 20,2007, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/968,067, “PortableMultifunction Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for PlayingOnline Videos,” filed Dec. 31, 2007, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

Each of the above-identified modules and applications corresponds to aset of executable instructions for performing one or more functionsdescribed above and the methods described in this application (e.g., thecomputer-implemented methods and other information processing methodsdescribed herein). These modules (e.g., sets of instructions) need notbe implemented as separate software programs, procedures, or modules,and thus various subsets of these modules are, optionally, combined orotherwise rearranged in various embodiments. For example, video playermodule is, optionally, combined with music player module into a singlemodule (e.g., video and music player module 152, FIG. 1A). In someembodiments, memory 102 optionally stores a subset of the modules anddata structures identified above. Furthermore, memory 102 optionallystores additional modules and data structures not described above.

In some embodiments, device 100 is a device where operation of apredefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screen and/ora touchpad as the primary input control device for operation of device100, the number of physical input control devices (such as push buttons,dials, and the like) on device 100 is, optionally, reduced.

The predefined set of functions that are performed exclusively through atouch screen and/or a touchpad optionally include navigation betweenuser interfaces. In some embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by theuser, navigates device 100 to a main, home, or root menu from any userinterface that is displayed on device 100. In such embodiments, a “menubutton” is implemented using a touchpad. In some other embodiments, themenu button is a physical push button or other physical input controldevice instead of a touchpad.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components for eventhandling in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments,memory 102 (FIG. 1A) or 370 (FIG. 3) includes event sorter 170 (e.g., inoperating system 126) and a respective application 136-1 (e.g., any ofthe aforementioned applications 137-151, 155, 380-390).

Event sorter 170 receives event information and determines theapplication 136-1 and application view 191 of application 136-1 to whichto deliver the event information. Event sorter 170 includes eventmonitor 171 and event dispatcher module 174. In some embodiments,application 136-1 includes application internal state 192, whichindicates the current application view(s) displayed on touch-sensitivedisplay 112 when the application is active or executing. In someembodiments, device/global internal state 157 is used by event sorter170 to determine which application(s) is (are) currently active, andapplication internal state 192 is used by event sorter 170 to determineapplication views 191 to which to deliver event information.

In some embodiments, application internal state 192 includes additionalinformation, such as one or more of: resume information to be used whenapplication 136-1 resumes execution, user interface state informationthat indicates information being displayed or that is ready for displayby application 136-1, a state queue for enabling the user to go back toa prior state or view of application 136-1, and a redo/undo queue ofprevious actions taken by the user.

Event monitor 171 receives event information from peripherals interface118. Event information includes information about a sub-event (e.g., auser touch on touch-sensitive display 112, as part of a multi-touchgesture). Peripherals interface 118 transmits information it receivesfrom I/O subsystem 106 or a sensor, such as proximity sensor 166,accelerometer(s) 168, and/or microphone 113 (through audio circuitry110). Information that peripherals interface 118 receives from I/Osubsystem 106 includes information from touch-sensitive display 112 or atouch-sensitive surface.

In some embodiments, event monitor 171 sends requests to the peripheralsinterface 118 at predetermined intervals. In response, peripheralsinterface 118 transmits event information. In other embodiments,peripherals interface 118 transmits event information only when there isa significant event (e.g., receiving an input above a predeterminednoise threshold and/or for more than a predetermined duration).

In some embodiments, event sorter 170 also includes a hit viewdetermination module 172 and/or an active event recognizer determinationmodule 173.

Hit view determination module 172 provides software procedures fordetermining where a sub-event has taken place within one or more viewswhen touch-sensitive display 112 displays more than one view. Views aremade up of controls and other elements that a user can see on thedisplay.

Another aspect of the user interface associated with an application is aset of views, sometimes herein called application views or userinterface windows, in which information is displayed and touch-basedgestures occur. The application views (of a respective application) inwhich a touch is detected optionally correspond to programmatic levelswithin a programmatic or view hierarchy of the application. For example,the lowest level view in which a touch is detected is, optionally,called the hit view, and the set of events that are recognized as properinputs are, optionally, determined based, at least in part, on the hitview of the initial touch that begins a touch-based gesture.

Hit view determination module 172 receives information related tosub-events of a touch-based gesture. When an application has multipleviews organized in a hierarchy, hit view determination module 172identifies a hit view as the lowest view in the hierarchy which shouldhandle the sub-event. In most circumstances, the hit view is the lowestlevel view in which an initiating sub-event occurs (e.g., the firstsub-event in the sequence of sub-events that form an event or potentialevent). Once the hit view is identified by the hit view determinationmodule 172, the hit view typically receives all sub-events related tothe same touch or input source for which it was identified as the hitview.

Active event recognizer determination module 173 determines which viewor views within a view hierarchy should receive a particular sequence ofsub-events. In some embodiments, active event recognizer determinationmodule 173 determines that only the hit view should receive a particularsequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, active event recognizerdetermination module 173 determines that all views that include thephysical location of a sub-event are actively involved views, andtherefore determines that all actively involved views should receive aparticular sequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, even if touchsub-events were entirely confined to the area associated with oneparticular view, views higher in the hierarchy would still remain asactively involved views.

Event dispatcher module 174 dispatches the event information to an eventrecognizer (e.g., event recognizer 180). In embodiments including activeevent recognizer determination module 173, event dispatcher module 174delivers the event information to an event recognizer determined byactive event recognizer determination module 173. In some embodiments,event dispatcher module 174 stores in an event queue the eventinformation, which is retrieved by a respective event receiver 182.

In some embodiments, operating system 126 includes event sorter 170.Alternatively, application 136-1 includes event sorter 170. In yet otherembodiments, event sorter 170 is a stand-alone module, or a part ofanother module stored in memory 102, such as contact/motion module 130.

In some embodiments, application 136-1 includes a plurality of eventhandlers 190 and one or more application views 191, each of whichincludes instructions for handling touch events that occur within arespective view of the application's user interface. Each applicationview 191 of the application 136-1 includes one or more event recognizers180. Typically, a respective application view 191 includes a pluralityof event recognizers 180. In other embodiments, one or more of eventrecognizers 180 are part of a separate module, such as a user interfacekit (not shown) or a higher level object from which application 136-1inherits methods and other properties. In some embodiments, a respectiveevent handler 190 includes one or more of: data updater 176, objectupdater 177, GUI updater 178, and/or event data 179 received from eventsorter 170. Event handler 190 optionally utilizes or calls data updater176, object updater 177, or GUI updater 178 to update the applicationinternal state 192. Alternatively, one or more of the application views191 include one or more respective event handlers 190. Also, in someembodiments, one or more of data updater 176, object updater 177, andGUI updater 178 are included in a respective application view 191.

A respective event recognizer 180 receives event information (e.g.,event data 179) from event sorter 170 and identifies an event from theevent information. Event recognizer 180 includes event receiver 182 andevent comparator 184. In some embodiments, event recognizer 180 alsoincludes at least a subset of: metadata 183, and event deliveryinstructions 188 (which optionally include sub-event deliveryinstructions).

Event receiver 182 receives event information from event sorter 170. Theevent information includes information about a sub-event, for example, atouch or a touch movement. Depending on the sub-event, the eventinformation also includes additional information, such as location ofthe sub-event. When the sub-event concerns motion of a touch, the eventinformation optionally also includes speed and direction of thesub-event. In some embodiments, events include rotation of the devicefrom one orientation to another (e.g., from a portrait orientation to alandscape orientation, or vice versa), and the event informationincludes corresponding information about the current orientation (alsocalled device attitude) of the device.

Event comparator 184 compares the event information to predefined eventor sub-event definitions and, based on the comparison, determines anevent or sub-event, or determines or updates the state of an event orsub-event. In some embodiments, event comparator 184 includes eventdefinitions 186. Event definitions 186 contain definitions of events(e.g., predefined sequences of sub-events), for example, event 1(187-1), event 2 (187-2), and others. In some embodiments, sub-events inan event (187) include, for example, touch begin, touch end, touchmovement, touch cancellation, and multiple touching. In one example, thedefinition for event 1 (187-1) is a double tap on a displayed object.The double tap, for example, comprises a first touch (touch begin) onthe displayed object for a predetermined phase, a first liftoff (touchend) for a predetermined phase, a second touch (touch begin) on thedisplayed object for a predetermined phase, and a second liftoff (touchend) for a predetermined phase. In another example, the definition forevent 2 (187-2) is a dragging on a displayed object. The dragging, forexample, comprises a touch (or contact) on the displayed object for apredetermined phase, a movement of the touch across touch-sensitivedisplay 112, and liftoff of the touch (touch end). In some embodiments,the event also includes information for one or more associated eventhandlers 190.

In some embodiments, event definition 187 includes a definition of anevent for a respective user-interface object. In some embodiments, eventcomparator 184 performs a hit test to determine which user-interfaceobject is associated with a sub-event. For example, in an applicationview in which three user-interface objects are displayed ontouch-sensitive display 112, when a touch is detected on touch-sensitivedisplay 112, event comparator 184 performs a hit test to determine whichof the three user-interface objects is associated with the touch(sub-event). If each displayed object is associated with a respectiveevent handler 190, the event comparator uses the result of the hit testto determine which event handler 190 should be activated. For example,event comparator 184 selects an event handler associated with thesub-event and the object triggering the hit test.

In some embodiments, the definition for a respective event (187) alsoincludes delayed actions that delay delivery of the event informationuntil after it has been determined whether the sequence of sub-eventsdoes or does not correspond to the event recognizer's event type.

When a respective event recognizer 180 determines that the series ofsub-events do not match any of the events in event definitions 186, therespective event recognizer 180 enters an event impossible, eventfailed, or event ended state, after which it disregards subsequentsub-events of the touch-based gesture. In this situation, other eventrecognizers, if any, that remain active for the hit view continue totrack and process sub-events of an ongoing touch-based gesture.

In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 180 includes metadata183 with configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate howthe event delivery system should perform sub-event delivery to activelyinvolved event recognizers. In some embodiments, metadata 183 includesconfigurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate how eventrecognizers interact, or are enabled to interact, with one another. Insome embodiments, metadata 183 includes configurable properties, flags,and/or lists that indicate whether sub-events are delivered to varyinglevels in the view or programmatic hierarchy.

In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 180 activates eventhandler 190 associated with an event when one or more particularsub-events of an event are recognized. In some embodiments, a respectiveevent recognizer 180 delivers event information associated with theevent to event handler 190. Activating an event handler 190 is distinctfrom sending (and deferred sending) sub-events to a respective hit view.In some embodiments, event recognizer 180 throws a flag associated withthe recognized event, and event handler 190 associated with the flagcatches the flag and performs a predefined process.

In some embodiments, event delivery instructions 188 include sub-eventdelivery instructions that deliver event information about a sub-eventwithout activating an event handler. Instead, the sub-event deliveryinstructions deliver event information to event handlers associated withthe series of sub-events or to actively involved views. Event handlersassociated with the series of sub-events or with actively involved viewsreceive the event information and perform a predetermined process.

In some embodiments, data updater 176 creates and updates data used inapplication 136-1. For example, data updater 176 updates the telephonenumber used in contacts module 137, or stores a video file used in videoplayer module. In some embodiments, object updater 177 creates andupdates objects used in application 136-1. For example, object updater177 creates a new user-interface object or updates the position of auser-interface object. GUI updater 178 updates the GUI. For example, GUIupdater 178 prepares display information and sends it to graphics module132 for display on a touch-sensitive display.

In some embodiments, event handler(s) 190 includes or has access to dataupdater 176, object updater 177, and GUI updater 178. In someembodiments, data updater 176, object updater 177, and GUI updater 178are included in a single module of a respective application 136-1 orapplication view 191. In other embodiments, they are included in two ormore software modules.

It shall be understood that the foregoing discussion regarding eventhandling of user touches on touch-sensitive displays also applies toother forms of user inputs to operate multifunction devices 100 withinput devices, not all of which are initiated on touch screens. Forexample, mouse movement and mouse button presses, optionally coordinatedwith single or multiple keyboard presses or holds; contact movementssuch as taps, drags, scrolls, etc. on touchpads; pen stylus inputs;movement of the device; oral instructions; detected eye movements;biometric inputs; and/or any combination thereof are optionally utilizedas inputs corresponding to sub-events which define an event to berecognized.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portable multifunction device 100 having a touchscreen 112 in accordance with some embodiments. The touch screenoptionally displays one or more graphics within user interface (UI) 200.In this embodiment, as well as others described below, a user is enabledto select one or more of the graphics by making a gesture on thegraphics, for example, with one or more fingers 202 (not drawn to scalein the figure) or one or more styluses 203 (not drawn to scale in thefigure). In some embodiments, selection of one or more graphics occurswhen the user breaks contact with the one or more graphics. In someembodiments, the gesture optionally includes one or more taps, one ormore swipes (from left to right, right to left, upward and/or downward),and/or a rolling of a finger (from right to left, left to right, upwardand/or downward) that has made contact with device 100. In someimplementations or circumstances, inadvertent contact with a graphicdoes not select the graphic. For example, a swipe gesture that sweepsover an application icon optionally does not select the correspondingapplication when the gesture corresponding to selection is a tap.

Device 100 optionally also include one or more physical buttons, such as“home” or menu button 204. As described previously, menu button 204 is,optionally, used to navigate to any application 136 in a set ofapplications that are, optionally, executed on device 100.Alternatively, in some embodiments, the menu button is implemented as asoft key in a GUI displayed on touch screen 112.

In some embodiments, device 100 includes touch screen 112, menu button204, push button 206 for powering the device on/off and locking thedevice, volume adjustment button(s) 208, subscriber identity module(SIM) card slot 210, headset jack 212, and docking/charging externalport 124. Push button 206 is, optionally, used to turn the power on/offon the device by depressing the button and holding the button in thedepressed state for a predefined time interval; to lock the device bydepressing the button and releasing the button before the predefinedtime interval has elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate anunlock process. In an alternative embodiment, device 100 also acceptsverbal input for activation or deactivation of some functions throughmicrophone 113. Device 100 also, optionally, includes one or morecontact intensity sensors 165 for detecting intensity of contacts ontouch screen 112 and/or one or more tactile output generators 167 forgenerating tactile outputs for a user of device 100.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary multifunction device with adisplay and a touch-sensitive surface in accordance with someembodiments. Device 300 need not be portable. In some embodiments,device 300 is a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer,a multimedia player device, a navigation device, an educational device(such as a child's learning toy), a gaming system, or a control device(e.g., a home or industrial controller). Device 300 typically includesone or more processing units (CPUs) 310, one or more network or othercommunications interfaces 360, memory 370, and one or more communicationbuses 320 for interconnecting these components. Communication buses 320optionally include circuitry (sometimes called a chipset) thatinterconnects and controls communications between system components.Device 300 includes input/output (I/O) interface 330 comprising display340, which is typically a touch screen display. I/O interface 330 alsooptionally includes a keyboard and/or mouse (or other pointing device)350 and touchpad 355, tactile output generator 357 for generatingtactile outputs on device 300 (e.g., similar to tactile outputgenerator(s) 167 described above with reference to FIG. 1A), sensors 359(e.g., optical, acceleration, proximity, touch-sensitive, and/or contactintensity sensors similar to contact intensity sensor(s) 165 describedabove with reference to FIG. 1A). Memory 370 includes high-speed randomaccess memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM, or other random access solidstate memory devices; and optionally includes non-volatile memory, suchas one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storagedevices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state storagedevices. Memory 370 optionally includes one or more storage devicesremotely located from CPU(s) 310. In some embodiments, memory 370 storesprograms, modules, and data structures analogous to the programs,modules, and data structures stored in memory 102 of portablemultifunction device 100 (FIG. 1A), or a subset thereof. Furthermore,memory 370 optionally stores additional programs, modules, and datastructures not present in memory 102 of portable multifunction device100. For example, memory 370 of device 300 optionally stores drawingmodule 380, presentation module 382, word processing module 384, websitecreation module 386, disk authoring module 388, and/or spreadsheetmodule 390, while memory 102 of portable multifunction device 100 (FIG.1A) optionally does not store these modules.

Each of the above-identified elements in FIG. 3 is, optionally, storedin one or more of the previously mentioned memory devices. Each of theabove-identified modules corresponds to a set of instructions forperforming a function described above. The above-identified modules orprograms (e.g., sets of instructions) need not be implemented asseparate software programs, procedures, or modules, and thus varioussubsets of these modules are, optionally, combined or otherwiserearranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 370optionally stores a subset of the modules and data structures identifiedabove. Furthermore, memory 370 optionally stores additional modules anddata structures not described above.

Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces thatare, optionally, implemented on, for example, portable multifunctiondevice 100.

FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary user interface for a menu ofapplications on portable multifunction device 100 in accordance withsome embodiments. Similar user interfaces are, optionally, implementedon device 300. In some embodiments, user interface 400 includes thefollowing elements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   Signal strength indicator(s) 402 for wireless communication(s),        such as cellular and Wi-Fi signals;    -   Time 404;    -   Bluetooth indicator 405;    -   Battery status indicator 406;    -   Tray 408 with icons for frequently used applications, such as:        -   Icon 416 for telephone module 138, labeled “Phone,” which            optionally includes an indicator 414 of the number of missed            calls or voicemail messages;        -   Icon 418 for e-mail client module 140, labeled “Mail,” which            optionally includes an indicator 410 of the number of unread            e-mails;        -   Icon 420 for browser module 147, labeled “Browser;” and        -   Icon 422 for video and music player module 152, also            referred to as iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.) module 152,            labeled “iPod;” and    -   Icons for other applications, such as:        -   Icon 424 for IM module 141, labeled “Messages;”        -   Icon 426 for calendar module 148, labeled “Calendar;”        -   Icon 428 for image management module 144, labeled “Photos;”        -   Icon 430 for camera module 143, labeled “Camera;”        -   Icon 432 for online video module 155, labeled “Online            Video;”        -   Icon 434 for stocks widget 149-2, labeled “Stocks;”        -   Icon 436 for map module 154, labeled “Maps;”        -   Icon 438 for weather widget 149-1, labeled “Weather;”        -   Icon 440 for alarm clock widget 149-4, labeled “Clock;”        -   Icon 442 for workout support module 142, labeled “Workout            Support;”        -   Icon 444 for notes module 153, labeled “Notes;” and        -   Icon 446 for a settings application or module, labeled            “Settings,” which provides access to settings for device 100            and its various applications 136.

It should be noted that the icon labels illustrated in FIG. 4A aremerely exemplary. For example, icon 422 for video and music playermodule 152 is labeled “Music” or “Music Player.” Other labels are,optionally, used for various application icons. In some embodiments, alabel for a respective application icon includes a name of anapplication corresponding to the respective application icon. In someembodiments, a label for a particular application icon is distinct froma name of an application corresponding to the particular applicationicon.

FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary user interface on a device (e.g.,device 300, FIG. 3) with a touch-sensitive surface 451 (e.g., a tabletor touchpad 355, FIG. 3) that is separate from the display 450 (e.g.,touch screen display 112). Device 300 also, optionally, includes one ormore contact intensity sensors (e.g., one or more of sensors 359) fordetecting intensity of contacts on touch-sensitive surface 451 and/orone or more tactile output generators 357 for generating tactile outputsfor a user of device 300.

Although some of the examples that follow will be given with referenceto inputs on touch screen display 112 (where the touch-sensitive surfaceand the display are combined), in some embodiments, the device detectsinputs on a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from the display,as shown in FIG. 4B. In some embodiments, the touch-sensitive surface(e.g., 451 in FIG. 4B) has a primary axis (e.g., 452 in FIG. 4B) thatcorresponds to a primary axis (e.g., 453 in FIG. 4B) on the display(e.g., 450). In accordance with these embodiments, the device detectscontacts (e.g., 460 and 462 in FIG. 4B) with the touch-sensitive surface451 at locations that correspond to respective locations on the display(e.g., in FIG. 4B, 460 corresponds to 468 and 462 corresponds to 470).In this way, user inputs (e.g., contacts 460 and 462, and movementsthereof) detected by the device on the touch-sensitive surface (e.g.,451 in FIG. 4B) are used by the device to manipulate the user interfaceon the display (e.g., 450 in FIG. 4B) of the multifunction device whenthe touch-sensitive surface is separate from the display. It should beunderstood that similar methods are, optionally, used for other userinterfaces described herein.

Additionally, while the following examples are given primarily withreference to finger inputs (e.g., finger contacts, finger tap gestures,finger swipe gestures), it should be understood that, in someembodiments, one or more of the finger inputs are replaced with inputfrom another input device (e.g., a mouse-based input or stylus input).For example, a swipe gesture is, optionally, replaced with a mouse click(e.g., instead of a contact) followed by movement of the cursor alongthe path of the swipe (e.g., instead of movement of the contact). Asanother example, a tap gesture is, optionally, replaced with a mouseclick while the cursor is located over the location of the tap gesture(e.g., instead of detection of the contact followed by ceasing to detectthe contact). Similarly, when multiple user inputs are simultaneouslydetected, it should be understood that multiple computer mice are,optionally, used simultaneously, or a mouse and finger contacts are,optionally, used simultaneously.

FIG. 5A illustrates exemplary personal electronic device 500. Device 500includes body 502. In some embodiments, device 500 can include some orall of the features described with respect to devices 100 and 300 (e.g.,FIGS. 1A-4B). In some embodiments, device 500 has touch-sensitivedisplay screen 504, hereafter touch screen 504. Alternatively, or inaddition to touch screen 504, device 500 has a display and atouch-sensitive surface. As with devices 100 and 300, in someembodiments, touch screen 504 (or the touch-sensitive surface)optionally includes one or more intensity sensors for detectingintensity of contacts (e.g., touches) being applied. The one or moreintensity sensors of touch screen 504 (or the touch-sensitive surface)can provide output data that represents the intensity of touches. Theuser interface of device 500 can respond to touches based on theirintensity, meaning that touches of different intensities can invokedifferent user interface operations on device 500.

Exemplary techniques for detecting and processing touch intensity arefound, for example, in related applications: International PatentApplication Serial No. PCT/US2013/040061, titled “Device, Method, andGraphical User Interface for Displaying User Interface ObjectsCorresponding to an Application,” filed May 8, 2013, published as WIPOPublication No. WO/2013/169849, and International Patent ApplicationSerial No. PCT/US2013/069483, titled “Device, Method, and Graphical UserInterface for Transitioning Between Touch Input to Display OutputRelationships,” filed Nov. 11, 2013, published as WIPO Publication No.WO/2014/105276, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference intheir entirety.

In some embodiments, device 500 has one or more input mechanisms 506 and508. Input mechanisms 506 and 508, if included, can be physical.Examples of physical input mechanisms include push buttons and rotatablemechanisms. In some embodiments, device 500 has one or more attachmentmechanisms. Such attachment mechanisms, if included, can permitattachment of device 500 with, for example, hats, eyewear, earrings,necklaces, shirts, jackets, bracelets, watch straps, chains, trousers,belts, shoes, purses, backpacks, and so forth. These attachmentmechanisms permit device 500 to be worn by a user.

FIG. 5B depicts exemplary personal electronic device 500. In someembodiments, device 500 can include some or all of the componentsdescribed with respect to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 3. Device 500 has bus 512that operatively couples I/O section 514 with one or more computerprocessors 516 and memory 518. I/O section 514 can be connected todisplay 504, which can have touch-sensitive component 522 and,optionally, intensity sensor 524 (e.g., contact intensity sensor). Inaddition, I/O section 514 can be connected with communication unit 530for receiving application and operating system data, using Wi-Fi,Bluetooth, near field communication (NFC), cellular, and/or otherwireless communication techniques. Device 500 can include inputmechanisms 506 and/or 508. Input mechanism 506 is, optionally, arotatable input device or a depressible and rotatable input device, forexample. In some embodiments, a rotatable input device is a crown, knob,ring, or scroll wheel that is rotatable via interaction with one ormultiple fingers. The rotatable input device may be mounted on the sideof device 500, as depicted in FIG. 5A, or in other locations, such asintegrated on or around display 504. Input mechanism 508 is, optionally,a button, in some examples.

Input mechanism 508 is, optionally, a microphone, in some examples.Personal electronic device 500 optionally includes various sensors, suchas GPS sensor 532, accelerometer 534, directional sensor 540 (e.g.,compass), gyroscope 536, motion sensor 538, and/or a combinationthereof, all of which can be operatively connected to I/O section 514.

Memory 518 of personal electronic device 500 can include one or morenon-transitory computer-readable storage mediums, for storingcomputer-executable instructions, which, when executed by one or morecomputer processors 516, for example, can cause the computer processorsto perform the techniques described below, including methods 700 (FIG.7), 1000 (FIG. 10), 1300 (FIG. 13), and 1600 (FIG. 16). Personalelectronic device 500 is not limited to the components and configurationof FIG. 5B, but can include other or additional components in multipleconfigurations.

As used here, the term “affordance” refers to a user-interactivegraphical user interface object that is, optionally, displayed on thedisplay screen of devices 100, 300, and/or 500 (FIGS. 1, 3, and 5). Forexample, an image (e.g., icon), a button, and text (e.g., hyperlink)each optionally constitute an affordance.

As used herein, the term “focus selector” refers to an input elementthat indicates a current part of a user interface with which a user isinteracting. In some implementations that include a cursor or otherlocation marker, the cursor acts as a “focus selector” so that when aninput (e.g., a press input) is detected on a touch-sensitive surface(e.g., touchpad 355 in FIG. 3 or touch-sensitive surface 451 in FIG. 4B)while the cursor is over a particular user interface element (e.g., abutton, window, slider, or other user interface element), the particularuser interface element is adjusted in accordance with the detectedinput. In some implementations that include a touch screen display(e.g., touch-sensitive display system 112 in FIG. 1A or touch screen 112in FIG. 4A) that enables direct interaction with user interface elementson the touch screen display, a detected contact on the touch screen actsas a “focus selector” so that when an input (e.g., a press input by thecontact) is detected on the touch screen display at a location of aparticular user interface element (e.g., a button, window, slider, orother user interface element), the particular user interface element isadjusted in accordance with the detected input. In some implementations,focus is moved from one region of a user interface to another region ofthe user interface without corresponding movement of a cursor ormovement of a contact on a touch screen display (e.g., by using a tabkey or arrow keys to move focus from one button to another button); inthese implementations, the focus selector moves in accordance withmovement of focus between different regions of the user interface.Without regard to the specific form taken by the focus selector, thefocus selector is generally the user interface element (or contact on atouch screen display) that is controlled by the user so as tocommunicate the user's intended interaction with the user interface(e.g., by indicating, to the device, the element of the user interfacewith which the user is intending to interact). For example, the locationof a focus selector (e.g., a cursor, a contact, or a selection box) overa respective button while a press input is detected on thetouch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touchpad or touch screen) will indicatethat the user is intending to activate the respective button (as opposedto other user interface elements shown on a display of the device).

As used in the specification and claims, the term “characteristicintensity” of a contact refers to a characteristic of the contact basedon one or more intensities of the contact. In some embodiments, thecharacteristic intensity is based on multiple intensity samples. Thecharacteristic intensity is, optionally, based on a predefined number ofintensity samples, or a set of intensity samples collected during apredetermined time period (e.g., 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10seconds) relative to a predefined event (e.g., after detecting thecontact, prior to detecting liftoff of the contact, before or afterdetecting a start of movement of the contact, prior to detecting an endof the contact, before or after detecting an increase in intensity ofthe contact, and/or before or after detecting a decrease in intensity ofthe contact). A characteristic intensity of a contact is, optionally,based on one or more of: a maximum value of the intensities of thecontact, a mean value of the intensities of the contact, an averagevalue of the intensities of the contact, a top 10 percentile value ofthe intensities of the contact, a value at the half maximum of theintensities of the contact, a value at the 90 percent maximum of theintensities of the contact, or the like. In some embodiments, theduration of the contact is used in determining the characteristicintensity (e.g., when the characteristic intensity is an average of theintensity of the contact over time). In some embodiments, thecharacteristic intensity is compared to a set of one or more intensitythresholds to determine whether an operation has been performed by auser. For example, the set of one or more intensity thresholdsoptionally includes a first intensity threshold and a second intensitythreshold. In this example, a contact with a characteristic intensitythat does not exceed the first threshold results in a first operation, acontact with a characteristic intensity that exceeds the first intensitythreshold and does not exceed the second intensity threshold results ina second operation, and a contact with a characteristic intensity thatexceeds the second threshold results in a third operation. In someembodiments, a comparison between the characteristic intensity and oneor more thresholds is used to determine whether or not to perform one ormore operations (e.g., whether to perform a respective operation orforgo performing the respective operation), rather than being used todetermine whether to perform a first operation or a second operation.

In some embodiments, a portion of a gesture is identified for purposesof determining a characteristic intensity. For example, atouch-sensitive surface optionally receives a continuous swipe contacttransitioning from a start location and reaching an end location, atwhich point the intensity of the contact increases. In this example, thecharacteristic intensity of the contact at the end location is,optionally, based on only a portion of the continuous swipe contact, andnot the entire swipe contact (e.g., only the portion of the swipecontact at the end location). In some embodiments, a smoothing algorithmis, optionally, applied to the intensities of the swipe contact prior todetermining the characteristic intensity of the contact. For example,the smoothing algorithm optionally includes one or more of: anunweighted sliding-average smoothing algorithm, a triangular smoothingalgorithm, a median filter smoothing algorithm, and/or an exponentialsmoothing algorithm. In some circumstances, these smoothing algorithmseliminate narrow spikes or dips in the intensities of the swipe contactfor purposes of determining a characteristic intensity.

The intensity of a contact on the touch-sensitive surface is,optionally, characterized relative to one or more intensity thresholds,such as a contact-detection intensity threshold, a light press intensitythreshold, a deep press intensity threshold, and/or one or more otherintensity thresholds. In some embodiments, the light press intensitythreshold corresponds to an intensity at which the device will performoperations typically associated with clicking a button of a physicalmouse or a trackpad. In some embodiments, the deep press intensitythreshold corresponds to an intensity at which the device will performoperations that are different from operations typically associated withclicking a button of a physical mouse or a trackpad. In someembodiments, when a contact is detected with a characteristic intensitybelow the light press intensity threshold (e.g., and above a nominalcontact-detection intensity threshold below which the contact is nolonger detected), the device will move a focus selector in accordancewith movement of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface withoutperforming an operation associated with the light press intensitythreshold or the deep press intensity threshold. Generally, unlessotherwise stated, these intensity thresholds are consistent betweendifferent sets of user interface figures.

An increase of characteristic intensity of the contact from an intensitybelow the light press intensity threshold to an intensity between thelight press intensity threshold and the deep press intensity thresholdis sometimes referred to as a “light press” input. An increase ofcharacteristic intensity of the contact from an intensity below the deeppress intensity threshold to an intensity above the deep press intensitythreshold is sometimes referred to as a “deep press” input. An increaseof characteristic intensity of the contact from an intensity below thecontact-detection intensity threshold to an intensity between thecontact-detection intensity threshold and the light press intensitythreshold is sometimes referred to as detecting the contact on thetouch-surface. A decrease of characteristic intensity of the contactfrom an intensity above the contact-detection intensity threshold to anintensity below the contact-detection intensity threshold is sometimesreferred to as detecting liftoff of the contact from the touch-surface.In some embodiments, the contact-detection intensity threshold is zero.In some embodiments, the contact-detection intensity threshold isgreater than zero.

In some embodiments described herein, one or more operations areperformed in response to detecting a gesture that includes a respectivepress input or in response to detecting the respective press inputperformed with a respective contact (or a plurality of contacts), wherethe respective press input is detected based at least in part ondetecting an increase in intensity of the contact (or plurality ofcontacts) above a press-input intensity threshold. In some embodiments,the respective operation is performed in response to detecting theincrease in intensity of the respective contact above the press-inputintensity threshold (e.g., a “down stroke” of the respective pressinput). In some embodiments, the press input includes an increase inintensity of the respective contact above the press-input intensitythreshold and a subsequent decrease in intensity of the contact belowthe press-input intensity threshold, and the respective operation isperformed in response to detecting the subsequent decrease in intensityof the respective contact below the press-input threshold (e.g., an “upstroke” of the respective press input).

In some embodiments, the device employs intensity hysteresis to avoidaccidental inputs sometimes termed “jitter,” where the device defines orselects a hysteresis intensity threshold with a predefined relationshipto the press-input intensity threshold (e.g., the hysteresis intensitythreshold is X intensity units lower than the press-input intensitythreshold or the hysteresis intensity threshold is 75%, 90%, or somereasonable proportion of the press-input intensity threshold). Thus, insome embodiments, the press input includes an increase in intensity ofthe respective contact above the press-input intensity threshold and asubsequent decrease in intensity of the contact below the hysteresisintensity threshold that corresponds to the press-input intensitythreshold, and the respective operation is performed in response todetecting the subsequent decrease in intensity of the respective contactbelow the hysteresis intensity threshold (e.g., an “up stroke” of therespective press input). Similarly, in some embodiments, the press inputis detected only when the device detects an increase in intensity of thecontact from an intensity at or below the hysteresis intensity thresholdto an intensity at or above the press-input intensity threshold and,optionally, a subsequent decrease in intensity of the contact to anintensity at or below the hysteresis intensity, and the respectiveoperation is performed in response to detecting the press input (e.g.,the increase in intensity of the contact or the decrease in intensity ofthe contact, depending on the circumstances).

For ease of explanation, the descriptions of operations performed inresponse to a press input associated with a press-input intensitythreshold or in response to a gesture including the press input are,optionally, triggered in response to detecting either: an increase inintensity of a contact above the press-input intensity threshold, anincrease in intensity of a contact from an intensity below thehysteresis intensity threshold to an intensity above the press-inputintensity threshold, a decrease in intensity of the contact below thepress-input intensity threshold, and/or a decrease in intensity of thecontact below the hysteresis intensity threshold corresponding to thepress-input intensity threshold. Additionally, in examples where anoperation is described as being performed in response to detecting adecrease in intensity of a contact below the press-input intensitythreshold, the operation is, optionally, performed in response todetecting a decrease in intensity of the contact below a hysteresisintensity threshold corresponding to, and lower than, the press-inputintensity threshold.

Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces (“UI”)and associated processes that are implemented on an electronic device,such as portable multifunction device 100, device 300, or device 500.

FIGS. 6A-6R illustrate exemplary user interfaces for handwriting onscreens, in accordance with some embodiments. The user interfaces inthese figures are used to illustrate the processes described below,including the processes in FIG. 7.

FIG. 6A depicts electronic device 600, variations of which include someor all of the components of devices 100, 300, or 500 described above.For example, electronic device 600 includes display 601, which, in somecases, corresponds to display 340 of device 300 or display 504 of device500. In some examples, a touch sensitive surface is integrated intodisplay 601. Electronic device 600 also includes rotatable input device602, which in some cases, corresponds to input mechanism 506 ofelectronic device 500.

In FIG. 6A, electronic device 600 is displaying handwriting interface610 on display 601. Handwriting interface 610 includes stroke input area608 (represented by the dotted box) and message area 609 (represented bythe dashed box). User strokes entered in stroke input area 608 areanalyzed by one or more processors of electronic device 600 to determinetext that the strokes represent. The determined text is then displayedin message area 609. FIG. 6A depicts stroke input area 608 and messagearea 609 as partially overlapping. In some cases, stroke input area 608and message 609 are completely overlapping, share a common border butare not overlapping, are separated by some distance, or have some otherspatial configuration.

Handwriting interface 610 also includes affordance 603 for indicatingthat the entered text is complete; affordance 604 for canceling furtherentry of text in the current instance of handwriting interface 610;affordance 605 for entering a dictation mode to receive audio input;affordance 607 for deleting text that has already been entered; andaffordance 606 for entering a space into the current text. Selecting ofaffordance 603, in some cases, cause text from the message area to bereturned to a program that initiated handwriting interface 610. Forexample, if a messaging application initiated handwriting interface 610,then selection of affordance 603 will return the text of the messagearea to the messaging application.

FIG. 6B depicts path 611, which represents the path of a user's fingertouching the display and touch sensitive surface in stroke input area608. Path 611 includes arrows indicating the direction that the user'sfinger followed. While FIG. 6B depicts path 611 generated from a user'sfinger, in other cases, other objects, such as a stylus or other object,is used.

FIG. 6C depicts display of stroke representation 612 that was generatedbased on the output of the touch sensitive surface's response to theuser's finger touching the touch sensitive surface along path 611 ofFIG. 6B. Stroke representation 612 is displayed as a series of dots andpartial dots. Other appearances for stroke representation 612 are alsopossible. In some cases, the intensity of display of strokerepresentation 612 is based on the time since it was detected.

FIG. 6D depicts the result electronic device 600 analyzing the strokecorresponding to stroke representation 612 to determine textrepresenting the stroke. In this case, the stroke was determined torepresent text 614 (the letter “h”), which now appears in message area609. Stroke representation 612 is no longer displayed in stroke inputarea 608. In some cases, strokes representations appearing in strokeinput area 608 are no longer displayed after they have been analyzed todetermine corresponding text. In some cases, stroke representationsappearing in stroke input area 608 transition to text in message area609 via an animation, for example, as the corresponding strokes arebeing analyzed.

FIG. 6E is the same as FIG. 6D, except the boxes for message area 609and stroke input area 608 have been removed for clarity. The rest of thefigures of electronic device 600 (FIGS. 6E-6R, 9A-9I, 12A-12L, and15A-15J) do not include the visual boxes marking message area 609 andstroke input area 608. Electronic device 600 as depicted in thesefigures, however, should still be considered to have the same messagearea and stroke input area of FIGS. 6A-6D.

FIG. 6F depicts handwriting interface 610 after a stroke has beenrecognized, text 614 has been determined based on the recognized stroke,and a set of one or more suggestions for text 614 has been determined,which is indicated by indicator 616. In some cases, the determination ofthe set of one or more suggestions for text 614 (or other text withinthe message area) is based on various factors and techniques, such as an-gram model, context of the messages, likely auto-corrections to thetext, likely auto-completes to the text, the strokes used to generatetext 614, context of the device, or other factors.

In FIG. 6G, in response to receiving input (e.g., scroll or rotationalinput) on input device 602, electronic device 600 displays suggestionbox 620, which contains one or more suggestions 622 for text in themessage area. In some cases, one or more suggestions 622 are part of (orall of) a set of suggestions for text in the message area. In this case,as indicated by text indication 618, the suggestions are for the text“h,” which is the only text in the message area. In some cases, asdescribed below, a suggestion box is displayed for only a portion of thetext present in the message area. Indicator 624 indicates the currentlyselected suggestion, which initially is the original text for which setof one or more suggestions 622 was generated for. Status bar 626represents the location of the currently selected suggestion (i.e.,location of indicator 624) in the set of one or more suggestions and isupdated as indicator 624 is moved and selects new suggestions.

FIG. 6H depicts the response of device 600 to receiving additional userinput (e.g., scroll or rotational input) via input device 602.Electronic device 600 moves indicator 624 down several suggestions inresponse to the user input. The message area 618 is updated to indicatethe currently selected suggestion “hello.” Status bar 626 is alsoupdated to reflect the location of the indicator 624 in set of one ormore suggestions 622.

FIG. 6I depicts the response of electronic device 600 to selection ofthe suggestion “hello”. Electronic device 600 updates the message areato include the selected suggestion. In some cases, the selection occursin response to input device 602 no longer receiving user input (e.g., nolonger receiving scroll or rotational input). In other cases, theselection occurs in response to other user input, such as an activationof a button, depressing of input device 602, a gesture on the touchsensitive surface, or other user input. Indicator 616 is present,indicating that a set of one or more suggestions are available for textof the message area. In response to receiving addition user input (e.g.,additional scroll input), suggestion box 620 and set of one or moresuggestions 622 (FIG. 6G) may be displayed again. In some embodiments, anew set of one or more suggestions based on the new text present in themessage area is generated and displayed in a suggestion box.

FIG. 6J depicts handwriting interface 610 with stroke representation628. Handwriting interface 610 is depicted after having received theinput, corresponding to a stroke, that generated stroke representation628 but prior to the stroke being analyzed to determine correspondingtext and suggestions, which is indicated by the lack of a suggestionsindicator (e.g., indicator 616 of FIG. 6I).

FIG. 6K depicts handwriting interface 610 after the stroke correspondingto stroke representation 628 has been analyzed and corresponding texthas been determined. In this case, the corresponding text to the strokecorresponding to stroke representation 628 is the letter “w,” which isdisplayed in the message area. A space separates the previous text(“hello”) from the new text (“w”). In some cases the space is present inresponse to user input selectin affordance 606. In other cases, thespace is present in response to electronic device 600 automaticallyinserting the space after, for example, determining that “hello” is acomplete word. Indicator 616 indicates that a set of one or moresuggestions is also available for text in the message area.

In FIG. 6L, in response to receiving input (e.g., scroll or rotationinput) via input device 602, electronic device 600 displays suggestionbox 632, which contains a set of one or more suggestions for text in themessage area. In this case, as indicated by text indication 630, thesuggestions are for the text “w,” which is the portion of the text inthe message area highlighted by text indication 630.

FIG. 6M depicts electronic device 600 displaying handwriting interface610 after electronic device 600 has processed many additional strokesreceived on the touch sensitive surface and corresponding text has beendetermined and displayed in the messaging area. Indicator 634 indicatesthat additional text is available but is not being displayed. In someembodiments, the additional text is viewed and accessed in response touser input, such as a swipe gesture on the message area.

FIG. 6N depicts handwriting interface 610, displayed in response toelectronic device 600 receiving user input (e.g., a scroll input) viainput device 602. Suggestion box 636 includes a set of suggestion forthe text “do,” as indicated by text indication 638. In addition to wordsthat begin with “do,” the set of suggestions in suggestion box 636include an emoji for a dog.

FIG. 6O depicts handwriting interface 610 after electronic device 600received further user input (e.g., scroll input) via input device 602.The user input results in moving the set of suggestions in suggestionbox 636 so that the dog emoji is the current selection. Handwritinginterface 610 has correspondingly updated the text in box indication 638to the dog emoji.

FIG. 6P depicts handwriting interface 610 after electronic device 600has selected (e.g., in response to a user input) the dog emojisuggestion from suggestion box 636 (FIG. 6O). For example, electronicdevice 600 selects the dog emoji in accordance with the selectionindicator of suggestion box 636 identifying the dog emoji whenelectronic device 600 stops receiving user input via input device 602.The message area has been updated to include the dog emoji.

FIG. 6Q depicts handwriting interface 610 after two additional strokes,corresponding to stroke representations 640 and 642, were received. Tstroke corresponding to stroke representation 640 was received first asindicated by the faded appearance as compared to stroke representation642 (corresponding to a later received stroke). If a time between theentry of the strokes corresponding to stroke representations 640 and 642is less than a threshold time, the strokes corresponding to strokerepresentations 640 and 642 are optionally analyzed together as part ofthe same set. If, however, the strokes are separated by a certain amountof time, the strokes are each analyzed separately as part of differentsets. As shown in FIG. 6Q, the strokes corresponding to strokerepresentations 640 and 642 were entered in the stroke input area insubstantially the same location as they are overlapping.

FIG. 6R depicts handwriting interface 610 after the strokescorresponding to stroke representations 640 and 642 have been analyzedto produce the text “to.” In some cases, this text will be the sameregardless of whether the strokes corresponding to strokerepresentations 640 and 642 are analyzed together or separately. In somecases, this text depends on whether the strokes corresponding to strokerepresentations 640 and 642 are analyzed together or separately.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for handwriting on atouch sensitive surface using an electronic device in accordance withsome embodiments. Method 700 is performed at a device (e.g., 100, 300,500) with a display, a touch sensitive surface, and a rotatable inputdevice. Some operations in method 700 are, optionally, combined, theorder of some operations are, optionally, changed, and some operationsare, optionally, omitted.

As described below, method 700 provides an intuitive way for handwritingon touch sensitive surfaces. The method reduces the cognitive burden ona user for handwriting on touch sensitive surfaces, thereby creating amore efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated computingdevices, enabling a user to enter handwriting on touch sensitivesurfaces faster and more efficiently conserves power and increases thetime between battery charges.

The electronic device displays (702) a user input interface (e.g. 610)on the display including a message area (e.g., 609) and a stroke inputarea (e.g., 608) (e.g., an area of the display and touch sensitivesurface that detects and displays strokes received from the user via afinger, stylus, or other object). In some examples, the message area(e.g., 609) and the stroke input area (e.g., 608) are partiallyoverlapping. In some examples, the message area is completely within thestroke input area (e.g., 608). In some examples, the message area andstroke input area (e.g., 608) share a boundary but do not overlap eachother. In some examples, the message area and stroke input area (e.g.,608) are spaced apart. In some examples the touch sensitive surface isless than 2 in×2 in, less than 1.5 in×1.5 in, or less than 1 in×1 in.

The electronic device receives (704) a first set of strokes (e.g.,corresponding to stroke representation 612) (e.g., one or morecontinuous strokes, where each stroke represents a letter or part of aletter) on the touch sensitive surface in the stroke input area (e.g.,608). In some examples, the first set of strokes represents one letter,multiple letters, one word, or multiple words. In some examples, thedisplay provides feedback to the user of the location and shape of astroke of the first set of strokes as the stroke is received (e.g.,display of stroke representation 612 FIG. 6C).

The electronic device determines (706) first text (e.g., a letter,letters, a word, or words) based on the first set of strokes (e.g.,corresponding to stroke representation 612). In some examples, thedetermination can further be based on strokes received prior to thefirst set of strokes, context of the electronic device (e.g., time ofday, location, current activity, calendar, the person that the messageis intended), or other information.

The electronic device displays (708) the first text (e.g., 614) on thedisplay in the message area (e.g., FIG. 6E). In some examples, theelectronic device displays the first set of strokes prior to displayingthe first text. In some examples, the electronic device transitions thedisplay of the first set of strokes into the display of the first textvia an animation. In some examples, the animation occurs while theelectronic device determines the first text based on the first set ofstrokes.

The electronic device determines (710) one or more suggestions (e.g.,622) based on the first text (e.g., 614), wherein the one or moresuggestions (e.g., 622) include one or more changes to the first text(e.g., the changes may implement suggested completions, corrections, orpredictions). In some examples, the one or more suggestions includesuggested spelling corrections for the first text. In some examples, theone or more suggestions include suggested completion to the first text.In some examples, the one or more suggestions include predictions of anadditional word to follow the first text.

After the electronic device determines (712) the one or more suggestions(e.g., 622), the electronic device receives user input via the rotatableinput mechanism (e.g., 602). In some examples, the rotatable inputmechanism is a crown, a knob, a ring, or wheel. In some examples theaxis of rotation is perpendicular to the plane of the display. In someexamples, the axis of rotation is parallel or contained within the planeof the display. In some examples, the rotatable input mechanism is tothe side of the display. In some examples, the rotatable input mechanismis around the display.

The electronic device displays (716), in response to the user input(714) (e.g., user input received via input device 602), at least one ofthe one or more suggestions (e.g., suggestions 622 in suggestion box620) and displays (718) a selection indicator (e.g., 624) indicating aselected suggestion of the one or more suggestions (e.g., 622). In someexamples, the at least one suggestion of the one or more suggestions isdisplayed in a surrounding graphical element. In some examples, inresponse to the user input stopping immediately after displaying the atleast one of the one or more suggestions, the electronic device ceasesto display the at least one of the one or more suggestions. In someexamples, the selection indicator is to the side of the selectedsuggestion. In some examples, the selection indicator surrounds the oneor more suggestions. In some examples, the selection indicator isintegrated with the selected suggestion, such as changing the color orotherwise changing the appearance of the selected suggestion.

After the electronic device displays the at least one of the one or moresuggestions (e.g., 622) and the selection indicator (e.g., 624), theelectronic device replaces (720) display of the first text in themessage area with display of the selected suggestion (e.g., FIG. 6Gversus FIG. 6H). In some examples, the replacement happens in responseto the selection indicator moving to a new suggestion.

In accordance with some embodiments, in response to determining the oneor more suggestions, the electronic device displays an indication (e.g.,616) that the one or more suggestions are available. In some examples,the indication is first displayed at the same time as the first displayof the first text. In some examples, the indication is adjacent to therotatable input mechanism (e.g., 602) so that a user is drawn to therotatable input mechanism, and even drawn to rotate the rotatable inputmechanism, in response to the display of the indication that is adjacentto the rotatable input mechanism (e.g., compare indicator 616 of FIG. 6Fand location and orientation of rotation in FIG. 6G).

In accordance with some embodiments, further in response to receivingthe user input, the electronic device determines whether acharacteristic of the user input (e.g., time since the user input hasstopped) meets a first criteria. In accordance with a determination thatthe suggestion interface cessation criteria are met, the electronicdevice ceases to display the graphical interface (e.g., 620)corresponding to the one or more suggestions (e.g., 622).

In accordance with some embodiments, in response to continuing toreceive the user input via the rotatable input mechanism (e.g., inputdevice 602), the electronic device moves the selection indicator (e.g.,624) from a first suggestion to a second suggestion of the one or moresuggestions (e.g., FIGS. 6G and 6H).

In accordance with some embodiments, the display of the one or moresuggestions includes the first text and one or more capitalizedsuggestions above the first text and one or more lower case suggestionsbelow the first text (e.g., FIGS. 6G, 6L, 6N).

In accordance with some embodiments, the one or more suggestions includean auto-complete suggestion (e.g., suggesting a complete word based onthe first text) or an auto-correct suggestion (e.g., a spelling orgrammar correction for the first text).

In accordance with some embodiments, the one or more suggestions includean emoji identified based on the first text (e.g., FIG. 6O). In someexamples, the first text is descriptive of the item that the emojirepresents (e.g., first text “dog” produces a dog emoji suggestion orfirst text “:)” produces a happy face emoji suggestion). In someexamples, the first text is more generally descriptive of a feature ofthe emoji (e.g., first text “happy” produces a happy face emojisuggestion).

In accordance with some embodiments, the one or more suggestions aredetermined using an n-gram model.

In accordance with some embodiments, prior to the electronic devicereceiving the first set of strokes, the electronic device receives asecond set of strokes in the stroke input area (e.g., strokes from aprevious word or from previous letters in the same word). The electronicdevice determines second text based on the second set of strokes.Determining the one or more suggestions is further based on the secondtext (e.g., the context of the second text is used in analyzing thefirst set of strokes to determine the first text).

In accordance with some embodiments, in response to receiving at least aportion of the first set of strokes, the electronic device displays, inthe stroke input area, a graphical representation of the first set ofstrokes (e.g., FIGS. 6C and 6J).

In accordance with some embodiments, the electronic device receives afirst stroke in the stroke input area. After a time period has elapsedsince receiving the first stroke, the electronic device receives asecond stroke in the stroke input area. In accordance with adetermination that the time period exceeds a threshold value, theelectronic device includes the first stroke and the second stroke in thefirst set of strokes. In accordance with a determination that the timeperiod does not exceed a threshold, the electronic device includes thefirst stroke in the first set of strokes and excludes the second strokefrom the first set of strokes (e.g., FIG. 6Q).

In accordance with some embodiments, the first text includes multiplecharacters (e.g. FIGS. 6Q and 6R).

In accordance with some embodiments, the first text is a singlecharacter (e.g. FIG. 6D).

In accordance with some embodiments, the electronic device receives athird stroke (e.g., 640) at a location in the stroke input area. Theelectronic device receives a fourth stroke (e.g., 642) in the strokeinput area at substantially the same location in the stroke input area,wherein both the third stroke and the fourth stroke are included in thefirst set of strokes (e.g., FIG. 6Q).

In accordance with some embodiments, the first set of strokes is asingle continuous stroke (e.g., 612).

In accordance with some embodiments, the first set of strokes includes aplurality of discrete strokes (e.g., 640, 642).

In accordance with some embodiments, the user input interface includes aplurality of affordances (e.g., 603-607), including an affordancecorresponding to audio input (e.g., 605). In response to the electronicdevice receiving user input selecting the affordance (e.g., 605)corresponding to audio input, the electronic device displays an audioinput interface to receive dictation input.

In accordance with some embodiments, the electronic device displays ascroll indicator (e.g., 626) with the display of the at least one of theone or more suggestions (e.g., 622) and the display of the selectionindicator (e.g., 624), wherein a size of the scroll indicator is basedon the number of one or more suggestions and a location of the scrollindicator is based on the position of the selection indicator within thenumber of one or more suggestions (e.g., FIG. 6G versus FIG. 6H).

In accordance with some embodiments, after replacing display of thefirst text with display of the selected suggestion, the electronicdevice ceases to display the at least one of the one or more suggestions(e.g., 6I). After ceasing to display the at least one of the one or moresuggestions, the electronic device receives additional user input viathe rotatable input mechanism (e.g., 602). In response to receiving theadditional user input: the electronic device displays an at leastadditional one of the one or more suggestions and displays the selectionindicator (e.g., the same set of suggestions are displayed if the userinput is received again).

Note that details of the processes described above with respect tomethod 700 (e.g., FIG. 7) are also applicable in an analogous manner tothe methods described below. For example, method 1000 (FIG. 10), method1300 (FIG. 13), and method 1600 (FIG. 16) optionally include one or moreof the characteristics of the various methods described above withreference to method 700. For example, methods 1000, 1300, and 1600 mayinclude method 700 as part of the text entry and suggestion tocompliment the processes of these methods. For brevity, these detailsare not repeated below.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 8 shows an exemplaryfunctional block diagram of an electronic device 800 configured inaccordance with the principles of the various described embodiments. Inaccordance with some embodiments, the functional blocks of electronicdevice 800 are configured to perform the techniques described above. Thefunctional blocks of the device 800 are, optionally, implemented byhardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software to carryout the principles of the various described examples. It is understoodby persons of skill in the art that the functional blocks described inFIG. 8 are, optionally, combined or separated into sub-blocks toimplement the principles of the various described examples. Therefore,the description herein optionally supports any possible combination orseparation or further definition of the functional blocks describedherein.

As shown in FIG. 8, an electronic device 800 includes a display unit802, a touch sensitive surface unit 804, rotatable input mechanism unit806, and a processing unit 808 coupled to the a display unit 802, atouch sensitive surface unit 804, rotatable input mechanism unit 806. Insome embodiments, the processing unit 808 includes a display enablingunit 810, a receiving unit 812, a determining unit 814, an includingunit 816.

The processing unit 808 is configured to: enable display (e.g., usingdisplay enabling unit 810) of a user input interface on the display unit802 including a message area and a stroke input area; receive (e.g.,using receiving unit 812) a first set of strokes on the touch sensitivesurface unit 804 in the stroke input area; determine (e.g., usingdetermining unit 814) first text based on the first set of strokes;enable display (e.g., using display enabling unit 810) of the first texton the display unit in the message area; determine (e.g., usingdetermining unit 814) one or more suggestions based on the first text,wherein the one or more suggestions include one or more changes to thefirst text; after determining the one or more suggestions, receive(e.g., using receiving unit 812) user input via the rotatable inputmechanism unit 806; in response to the user input: enable display (e.g.,using display enabling unit 810) of at least one of the one or moresuggestions; and enable display (e.g., using display enabling unit 810)of a selection indicator indicating a selected suggestion of the one ormore suggestions; and after enabling display of the at least one or theone or more suggestions and the selection indicator, replace display(e.g., using display enabling unit 810) of the first text with displayof the selected suggestion.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 808 is further configured to:in response to determining the one or more suggestions, enable display(e.g., using display enabling unit 810) of an indication that the one ormore suggestions are available.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 808 is further configured to:further in response to receiving the user input, determine (e.g., usingdetermining unit 814) whether a characteristic of the user input meetsfirst criteria; in accordance with a determination that the suggestioninterface cessation criteria are met, cease enabling display (e.g.,using display enabling unit 810) of the graphical interfacecorresponding to the one or more suggestions.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 808 is further configured to:in response to continuing to receiving the user input via the rotatableinput mechanism unit 806, move (e.g., using display enabling unit 810)the selection indicator from a first suggestion to a second suggestionof the one or more suggestions.

In some embodiments, enabling display (e.g., using display enabling unit810) of the one or more suggestions includes the first text and one ormore capitalized suggestions above the first text and one or more lowercase suggestions below the first text.

In some embodiments, the one or more suggestions include anauto-complete suggestion or an auto-correct suggestion.

In some embodiments, the one or more suggestions include an emojiidentified based on the first text.

In some embodiments, the one or more suggestions are determined using ann-gram model.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 808 is further configured to:prior to receiving the first set of strokes, receive (e.g., usingreceiving unit 812) a second set of strokes in the stroke input area;determine (e.g., using determining unit 814) second text based on thesecond set of strokes, wherein determining the one or more suggestionsis further based on the second text.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 808 is further configured to:in response to receiving at least a portion of the first set of strokes,enable display (e.g., using display enabling unit 810), in the strokeinput area, of a graphical representation of the first set of strokes.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 808 is further configured to:receive (e.g., using receiving unit 812) a first stroke in the strokeinput area; after a time period has elapsed since receiving the firststroke, receive (e.g., using receiving unit 812) a second stroke in thestroke input area; in accordance with a determination that the timeperiod exceeds a threshold value, include (e.g., using including unit816) the first stroke and the second stroke in the first set of strokes;in accordance with a determination that the time period does not exceeda threshold, include (e.g., using including unit 816) the first strokein the first set of strokes and excluding the second stroke from thefirst set of strokes.

In some embodiments, the first text includes multiple characters.

In some embodiments, the first text is a single character.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 808 is further configured to:receive (e.g., using receiving unit 812) a third stroke at a location inthe stroke input area; receive (e.g., using receiving unit 812) a fourthstroke in the stroke input area at substantially the same location inthe stroke input area, wherein both the third stroke and the fourthstroke are included in the first set of strokes.

In some embodiments, the first set of strokes is a single continuousstroke.

In some embodiments, the first set of strokes includes a plurality ofdiscrete strokes.

In some embodiments, the user input interface includes a plurality ofaffordances, including an affordance corresponding to audio input, andthe processing unit 808 is further configured to: in response toreceiving user input selecting the affordance corresponding to audioinput, enable display (e.g., using display enabling unit 810), on thedisplay unit 802, of an audio input interface to receive dictationinput.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 808 is further configured to:enable display (e.g., using display enabling unit 810) of a scrollindicator with the display of the at least one of the one or moresuggestions and the display of the selection indicator, wherein a sizeof the scroll indicator is based on the number of one or moresuggestions and a location of the scroll indicator is based on theposition of the selection indicator within the number of one or moresuggestions.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 808 is further configured to:after replacing display of the first text with display of the selectedsuggestion: cease enabling display (e.g., using display enabling unit810) of the at least one of the one or more suggestions; and afterceasing to enable display (e.g., using display enabling unit 810) of theat least one of the one or more suggestions, receive (e.g., usingreceiving unit 812) additional user input via the rotatable inputmechanism unit; in response to receiving the additional user input:enable display (e.g., using display enabling unit 810), on the displayunit 802, of an at least additional one of the one or more suggestions;and enable display(e.g., using display enabling unit 810), on thedisplay unit 802, of the selection indicator.

The operations described above with reference to FIG. 7 are, optionally,implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B or FIG. 8. Forexample, receiving operation 704 is, optionally, implemented by eventsorter 170, event recognizer 180, and event handler 190. Event monitor171 in event sorter 170 detects a contact on touch-sensitive display112, and event dispatcher module 174 delivers the event information toapplication 136-1. A respective event recognizer 180 of application136-1 compares the event information to respective event definitions186, and determines whether a first contact at a first location on thetouch-sensitive surface corresponds to a predefined event or sub event,such as activation of an affordance on a user interface. When arespective predefined event or sub-event is detected, event recognizer180 activates an event handler 190 associated with the detection of theevent or sub-event. Event handler 190 optionally utilizes or calls dataupdater 176 or object updater 177 to update the application internalstate 192. In some embodiments, event handler 190 accesses a respectiveGUI updater 178 to update what is displayed by the application.Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinary skill in theart how other processes can be implemented based on the componentsdepicted in FIGS. 1A-1B.

FIGS. 9A-9I illustrate exemplary user interfaces for handwriting onscreens, in accordance with some embodiments. The user interfaces inthese figures are used to illustrate the processes described below,including the processes in FIG. 10.

FIG. 9A depicts electronic device 600 displaying handwriting interface610, which was described with respective to FIGS. 6A-6R. Electronicdevice 600 has received a stroke corresponding to stroke representation900 in the stroke input area. The representation of the stroke isdisplayed on the display, but the analysis of stroke corresponding tostroke representation 900 to determine first text has not yet completed.

FIG. 9B depicts handwriting interface 610 after electronic device 600receives the stroke corresponding to stroke representation 902 in thestroke input area. Stroke representation 900 is faded. In some cases,electronic device 600 fades representations of strokes as a function oftime since the stroke was received. Accordingly, recently receivedstroke corresponding to stroke representation 902 is darker as comparedto stroke representation 900. Strokes corresponding to strokerepresentations 900 and 902 were entered in substantially the samelocation on stroke input area.

FIG. 9C depicts handwriting interface 610 after electronic device 600receives the stroke corresponding to stroke representation 904 in strokeinput area. Stroke representation 900 is more faded as compared to itsappearance in FIG. 9B. Stroke representation 902 is also faded. Strokerepresentation 904, corresponding to the most recently received stroke,is the darkest of the three stroke representations. The strokescorresponding to stroke representations 902 and 904 were entered insubstantially the same location in stroke input area as stroke 900.

FIG. 9D depicts handwriting interface 610 after electronic device 600has analyzed the first set of strokes (e.g., strokes corresponding tostroke representations 900, 902, and 904), determined the correspondingtext is “neo,” and displayed the text in the message area. Handwritinginterface 610 in FIG. 9D has also received a stroke corresponding tostroke representation 906 subsequent to the display of the text in themessage area. In response to receiving the new stroke, the electronicdevice determines revised text based on the first set of strokes and thesecond set of strokes (stroke corresponding to stroke representation906).

FIG. 9E depicts handwriting interface 610 after electronic device 600has analyzed the first set of strokes and the second set of strokes,determined that the strokes correspond to the text “need,” and replacedthe previously determined text in the message area with the newcorresponding text in the message area. These figures (FIG. 9A-9E)depict how electronic device can re-analyze strokes that have alreadybeen analyzed in view of newly received strokes. Such processes can aidin disambiguating a set of strokes based on subsequently receivedstrokes. The electronic device need not consider whether it has receivedall strokes for a particular word or whether additional strokes may helpcorrectly analyze the strokes. FIGS. 9F-9I depict this concept asapplied to revising text that is a single character based onsubsequently received strokes.

FIG. 9F depicts handwriting interface 610 after electronic device 600has received the stroke corresponding to stroke representation 908(e.g., a substantially vertical stroke). Electronic device 600 has notyet determined corresponding text for the stroke corresponding to strokerepresentation 908.

FIG. 9G depicts handwriting interface 610 after electronic device 600has determined that the set of strokes consisting of the strokecorresponding to stroke representation 908 corresponds to an “l” (alower case “L”). The corresponding text is displayed in the messagearea.

FIG. 9H depicts handwriting interface 610 after electronic device 600has received the stroke corresponding to stroke representation 910.Electronic device 600 has not yet determined corresponding text for thestroke.

FIG. 9I depict handwriting interface 610 after electronic device 600 hasdetermined new text for the message area based on the strokecorresponding to stroke representation 908 and subsequently received thestroke corresponding to stroke representation 910. The strokecorresponding to stroke representation 910 was determined to be a dotthat corresponds to (e.g., is paired with) the substantially verticalstroke corresponding to stroke representation 908 and the “l” wasreplaced with an “i.”

The process for determining revised text depicted in FIGS. 9A-9E withrespect to a word and in FIGS. 9F-9I with respect to a single letter maybe based on a period of time that elapses between receiving the firstset of strokes and the second set of strokes. If the period of timeexceeds a threshold, the second set of strokes is analyzed independentof the first set of strokes and the text corresponding to the first setof strokes is not revised based on analysis of the first set of strokesand the second set of strokes. If the period of time does not exceed thethreshold, the second of set of strokes is analyzed together with thefirst set of strokes and revised text for the first set of strokes maybe produced.

The context of the device may also be considered in determining therevised text. For example, the location the electronic device, time ofday, the mode of the electronic device, and other factors associatedwith the electronic device may be considered in determining the revisedtext.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for handwriting on atouch sensitive surface using an electronic device in accordance withsome embodiments. Method 1000 is performed at a device (e.g., 100, 300,500) with a display, a touch sensitive surface, and a rotatable inputdevice. Some operations in method 1000 are, optionally, combined, theorder of some operations are, optionally, changed, and some operationsare, optionally, omitted.

As described below, method 1000 provides an intuitive way forhandwriting on touch sensitive surfaces. The method reduces thecognitive burden on a user for handwriting on touch sensitive surfaces,thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. Forbattery-operated computing devices, enabling a user to enter handwritingon touch sensitive surfaces faster and more efficiently conserves powerand increases the time between battery charges.

The electronic device displays (1002) a user input interface (e.g. 610)on the display including a message area (e.g., 609) and a stroke inputarea (e.g., 608) (e.g., an area of the display and touch sensitivesurface that detects and displays strokes received from the user via afinger, stylus, or other object). In some examples, the message area andthe stroke input area are partially overlapping. In some examples, themessage area is completely within the stroke input area. In someexamples, the message area and stroke input area share a boundary but donot overlap each other. In some examples, the message area and strokeinput area are spaced apart. In some examples the touch sensitivesurface is less than 2 in×2 in, less than 1.5 in×1.5 in, or less than 1in×1 in.

The electronic device receives (1004) a first set of strokes (e.g., 900,902, 904) (e.g., one or more continuous strokes, where each strokerepresents a letter or part of a letter) on the touch sensitive surfacein the stroke input area (e.g., 608). In some examples, the first set ofstrokes represents one letter, multiple letters, one word, or multiplewords. In some examples, the display provides feedback to the user ofthe location and shape of a stroke of the first set of strokes as thestroke is received (e.g., display of strokes 900, 902, 904 FIG. 9C). Insome examples, the display of the first set of strokes is based on thetime since each stroke was received, such as fading a stroke over time(e.g., display of strokes 900, 902, 904 FIG. 9C).

The electronic device determines (1006) first text (e.g., a letter,letters, a word, or words) based on the first set of strokes (e.g.,strokes 900, 902, 904). In some examples, the determination can furtherbe based on strokes received prior to the first set of strokes. Inaccordance with some embodiments, the electronic device determines therevised first text based on a current context of the electronic deviceat the time of the determination of the revised first text (e.g., timeof day, location, current activity, calendar, the person that themessage is intended).

The electronic device displays (1008) the first text (e.g., 905) on thedisplay in the message area (e.g., FIG. 9D). In some examples, theelectronic device displays the first set of strokes prior to displayingthe first text (e.g., FIG. 9C). In some examples, the electronic devicetransitions the display of the first set of strokes into the display ofthe first text via an animation. In some examples, the animation occurswhile the electronic device determines the first text based on the firstset of strokes.

The electronic device receives (1010) a second set of strokes (e.g.,906) on the touch sensitive surface in the stroke input area afterreceiving the first set of strokes (e.g., strokes 900, 902, 904) anddisplaying the first text (e.g., 905). In some examples, the second setof strokes represents a part of a letter, one letter, multiple letters,one word, or multiple words. In accordance with some embodiments, theelectronic device displays the first text before the electronic devicereceives the second set of strokes.

The electronic device determines (1012) revised first text (e.g., 907)based on the first set (e.g., 900, 902, 904) and second set of strokes(e.g., 906). In accordance with some embodiments, the second set ofstrokes is received after a period of time since receiving the first setof strokes, and wherein the determination of the revised first textbased on the first set and second set of strokes is in accordance with adetermination that the period of time is below a threshold value.

The electronic device replaces (1014) the display of the first text(e.g., FIG. 9D) with the revised first text (e.g., FIG. 9E). Inaccordance with some embodiments, after the electronic device receivesthe second set of strokes and after the electronic device displays therevised first text, the electronic device receives a third set ofstrokes on the touch sensitive surface in the stroke input area. Theelectronic device determines second text based on the third set ofstrokes. The electronic device displays the second text with the revisedfirst text.

In accordance with some embodiments, the first set of strokes is asingle continuous stroke and the first text is a single character (e.g.,FIG. 9F or 9G).

In accordance with some embodiments, the second set of strokes is asingle continuous stroke (e.g., FIG. 9D or 9H).

In accordance with some embodiments, the revised first text differs fromthe first text by only a single character (e.g., compare FIGS. 9G and9I).

In accordance with some embodiments, the revised first text differs fromthe first text by only the last character of the revised first text orthe first text (e.g., compare FIGS. 9G and 9I).

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 11 shows an exemplaryfunctional block diagram of an electronic device 1100 configured inaccordance with the principles of the various described embodiments. Inaccordance with some embodiments, the functional blocks of electronicdevice 1100 are configured to perform the techniques described above.The functional blocks of the device 1100 are, optionally, implemented byhardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software to carryout the principles of the various described examples. It is understoodby persons of skill in the art that the functional blocks described inFIG. 11 are, optionally, combined or separated into sub-blocks toimplement the principles of the various described examples. Therefore,the description herein optionally supports any possible combination orseparation or further definition of the functional blocks describedherein.

As shown in FIG. 11, an electronic device 1100 includes a display unit1102, a touch sensitive surface unit 1104, rotatable input mechanismunit 1106, and a processing unit 1108 coupled to the a display unit1102, a touch sensitive surface unit 1104, rotatable input mechanismunit 1106. In some embodiments, the processing unit 1108 includes adisplay enabling unit 1110, a receiving unit 1112, and a determiningunit 814.

The processing unit 1108 is configured to: enable display (e.g., usingdisplay enabling) of a user input interface on the display unit 1102including a message area and a stroke input area; receive (e.g., usingreceiving unit 1112) a first set of strokes on the touch sensitivesurface unit in the stroke input area; determine (e.g., usingdetermining unit 1114) first text based on the first set of strokes;enable display (e.g., using display enabling unit 1110) the first textin the message area; receive (e.g., using receiving unit 1112) a secondset of strokes on the touch sensitive surface unit in the stroke inputarea after receiving the first set of strokes and displaying the firsttext; determine (e.g., using determining unit 1114) revised first textbased on the first set and second set of strokes; and replace (e.g.,using display enabling unit 1110) the display of the first text with therevised first text.

In some embodiments, the second set of strokes is received after aperiod of time since receiving the first set of strokes, and thedetermination of the revised first text based on the first set andsecond set of strokes is in accordance with a determination that theperiod of time is below a threshold value.

In some embodiments, enabling displaying of the first text occurs beforereceiving the second set of strokes.

In some embodiments, determining the revised first text is further basedon a current context of the portable electronic device at the time ofthe determination of the revised first text.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 1108 is further configured to:after receiving the second set of strokes and after enabling display ofthe revised first text, receive (e.g., using receiving unit 1112) athird set of strokes on the touch sensitive surface in the stroke inputarea; determine (e.g., using determining unit 1114) second text based onthe third set of strokes; and enable display (e.g., using displayenabling unit 1110) of the second text with the revised first text.

In some embodiments, the first set of strokes is a single continuousstroke and the first text is a single character.

In some embodiments, the second set of strokes is a single continuousstroke.

In some embodiments, the revised first text differs from the first textby only a single character.

In some embodiments, the revised first text differs from the first textby only the last character of the revised first text or the first text.

The operations described above with reference to FIG. 10 are,optionally, implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B or FIG.11. For example, receiving operation 1004 is, optionally, implemented byevent sorter 170, event recognizer 180, and event handler 190. Eventmonitor 171 in event sorter 170 detects a contact on touch-sensitivedisplay 112, and event dispatcher module 174 delivers the eventinformation to application 136-1. A respective event recognizer 180 ofapplication 136-1 compares the event information to respective eventdefinitions 186, and determines whether a first contact at a firstlocation on the touch-sensitive surface corresponds to a predefinedevent or sub event, such as activation of an affordance on a userinterface. When a respective predefined event or sub-event is detected,event recognizer 180 activates an event handler 190 associated with thedetection of the event or sub-event. Event handler 190 optionallyutilizes or calls data updater 176 or object updater 177 to update theapplication internal state 192. In some embodiments, event handler 190accesses a respective GUI updater 178 to update what is displayed by theapplication. Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinaryskill in the art how other processes can be implemented based on thecomponents depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B.

FIGS. 12A-12L illustrate exemplary user interfaces for handwriting onscreens, in accordance with some embodiments. The user interfaces inthese figures are used to illustrate the processes described below,including the processes in FIG. 13.

FIGS. 12A-12H depict the steps of using electronic device 600 to enterthe word “going” on a touch sensitive surface using multiple strokeswhile electronic device 600 processes the strokes completely as they areavailable. In contrast, FIGS. 12I-12L depict the steps of usingelectronic device 600 to enter the word “going” on a touch sensitivesurface using multiple strokes while electronic device 600 processingstrokes as they are available but interrupting analysis of previousstrokes to restart the analysis with new strokes as they becomeavailable. In some cases, this latter process provides for benefits overthe former process.

FIG. 12A depicts handwriting interface 610 after electronic device 600has received stroke 1200. FIG. 12B depicts the result (text 1201) ofelectronic device 600 analyzing the stroke corresponding to strokerepresentation 1200. FIG. 12C depicts handwriting interface 610 afterelectronic device 600 has received the stroke corresponding to strokerepresentation 1202 and the stroke corresponding to strokerepresentation 1204. FIG. 12D depicts handwriting interface 610 afterelectronic device 600 has started processing the strokes correspondingto stroke representations 1202 and 1204 but before electronic device 600has determined corresponding text for the strokes. In FIG. 12D, the factthat the strokes corresponding to stroke representations 1202 and 1204are being processed is indicated by the stroke representations no longerbeing displayed. This behavior, however, is exemplary and is notnecessarily true in all cases. FIG. 12D depicts that electronic device600 has also received stroke 1206. That is, electronic device 600received the stroke corresponding to stroke representation 1206 after itstarted processing the strokes corresponding to stroke representations1202 and 1204, but before electronic device 600 determines correspondingtext for the strokes. FIG. 12E depicts electronic device 600 after itfinished analyzing the strokes corresponding to stroke representations1202 and 1204 and starting to analyze the stroke corresponding to strokerepresentation 1206, but before electronic device 600 has finishedanalyzing the stroke corresponding to stroke representation 1206. FIG.12F depicts electronic device 600 after it has finished analyzing thestroke corresponding to stroke representation 1206. Finally, in FIG. 12Gelectronic device 600 receives the final stroke (the strokecorresponding to stroke representation 1208) and processes it. Theresult is depicted in FIG. 12H as text 1201. Because electronic device600 processed strokes to completion as they became available, text 1201is incorrect because electronic device 600 did not have the full contextof all of the strokes as they were made available. Even if electronicdevice 600 had arrived at the correct text in FIG. 12H, it likely wouldhave performed excessive or redundant processing as long the way becauseit was determining text without access to the full context of all thestrokes.

In contrast, in FIGS. 12I-12L, the same strokes are entered andprocessing begins as the strokes are available. Electronic device 600,however, stops processing the current set of strokes each time a newstroke is available. For example, FIG. 12I depicts that electronicdevice 600 has received two strokes, strokes corresponding to strokerepresentations 1200 and 1202. FIG. 12J depicts that electronic device600 has started processing the strokes corresponding to strokerepresentations 1200 and 1202 (e.g., indicated by stroke representations1200 and 1202 no longer being displayed, which is not necessarily truefor all embodiments) but has not yet determined corresponding text whenstrokes corresponding to stroke representations 1204 and 1206 arereceived. In this case, in response to receiving strokes correspondingto stroke representations 1204 and 1206 (or even just the strokecorresponding to stroke representation 1204 that was entered first),electronic device 600 stops processing the set of strokes correspondingto stroke representations 1200 and 1202, adds strokes corresponding tostroke representations 1204 and 1206 to the set of strokes, andcontinues processing the set of strokes. FIG. 12K depicts that the finalstroke, the stroke corresponding to stroke representation 1208, isentered. Similar to when strokes corresponding to stroke representations1204 and 1206 were entered, because electronic device 600 is stillprocessing the set of strokes when stroke 1208 is received, electronicdevice 600 stops processing, adds the stroke corresponding to strokerepresentation 1208 to the set of strokes, and continues processing theset of strokes. In some cases, electronic device 600 resets/restarts itsanalysis when new strokes are added to the set of strokes, but this isnot necessarily true in all embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for handwriting on atouch sensitive surface using an electronic device in accordance withsome embodiments. Method 1300 is performed at a device (e.g., 100, 300,500) with a display, a touch sensitive surface, and a rotatable inputdevice. Some operations in method 1300 are, optionally, combined, theorder of some operations are, optionally, changed, and some operationsare, optionally, omitted.

As described below, method 1300 provides an intuitive way forhandwriting on touch sensitive surfaces. The method reduces thecognitive burden on a user for handwriting on touch sensitive surfaces,thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. Forbattery-operated computing devices, enabling a user to enter handwritingon touch sensitive surfaces faster and more efficiently conserves powerand increases the time between battery charges.

The electronic device displays (1302) a user input interface (e.g. 610)on the display including a message area (e.g., 609) and a stroke inputarea (e.g., 608) (e.g., an area of the display and touch sensitivesurface that detects and displays strokes received from the user via afinger, stylus, or other object). In some examples, the message area andthe stroke input area are partially overlapping. In some examples, themessage area is completely within the stroke input area. In someexamples, the message area and stroke input area share a boundary but donot overlap each other. In some examples, the message area and strokeinput area are spaced apart. In some examples the touch sensitivesurface is less than 2 in×2 in, less than 1.5 in×1.5 in, or less than 1in×1 in.

The electronic device receives (1304) a first set of strokes (e.g.,1200, 1202, 1204) (e.g., one or more continuous strokes, where eachstroke represents a letter or part of a letter) on the touch sensitivesurface in the stroke input area (e.g., 608). In some examples, thefirst set of strokes represents one letter, multiple letters, one word,or multiple words. In some examples, the display provides feedback tothe user of the location and shape of a stroke of the first set ofstrokes as the stroke is received (e.g., display of strokes 1200, 1202,1204).

The electronic device starts (1306) to determine first text (e.g., aletter, letters, a word, or words) based on the first set of strokes(e.g., strokes 1200, 1202, 1204). In some examples, the determinationcan further be based on strokes received prior to the first set ofstrokes, context of the electronic device (e.g., time of day, location,current activity, calendar, the person that the message is intended), orother information.

The electronic device receives (1308) a second set of strokes (e.g.,1206) (e.g., one or more continuous strokes, where each strokerepresents a letter or part of a letter) on the touch sensitive surfacein the stroke input area (e.g., 608) without displaying the first textin the message area (e.g., FIG. 12J). In some examples, the second setof strokes represents a part of a letter, one letter, multiple letters,one word, or multiple words. In some examples, the display providesfeedback to the user of the location and shape of a stroke of the firstset of strokes as the stroke is received (e.g., display of strokes1206). In accordance with some embodiments, the electronic devicedetermines the first text based on the first set of strokes beforereceiving the second set of strokes.

The electronic device determines revised first text based on the firstset and second set of strokes (e.g., text 1208).

The electronic device displays the revised first text in the messagearea (e.g., text 1208).

In accordance with some embodiments, the revised first text includes afirst character and wherein the first character is not based on thesecond set of strokes (e.g., the first character is “G” and is not basedon stroke 1206).

In accordance with some embodiments, the revised first text includes aplurality of characters and the plurality of characters are based on thefirst set of strokes (e.g., the test includes “Go” that are based on thefirst set of strokes, 1200 and 1202).

In accordance with some embodiments, the revised first text includes asecond character and wherein the second character is not based on thefirst set of strokes (e.g., a second character is the “i” that is notbased on the first set of strokes, strokes 1200 and 1202.

In accordance with some embodiments, the revised first text is a singleword (e.g., text 1208).

In accordance with some embodiments, the first set of strokes (e.g.,1200 and 1202) are entered in a location on the stroke input areasubstantially the same as a location in the stroke input area where thesecond set of strokes (e.g., 1206 or 1208) are entered.

In accordance with some embodiments, the revised first text includes afirst portion based on the shape of the first set of strokes and contextprovided by the second set of strokes (e.g., the first set of strokesare in the shape of an “n” or an “h,” but it is ambiguous based on shapealong which letter is correct and the context provide the second strokesresults in determining that the corresponding letter is “n” because thesecond set of strokes' corresponding text is “ight.”).

In accordance with some embodiments, the revised first text includes afirst portion based on the shape of the second set of strokes andcontext provided by the first set of strokes (e.g., the second set ofstrokes are in the shape of an “n” or an “h,” but it is ambiguous basedon shape along which letter is correct and the context provide the firststrokes results in determining that the corresponding letter is “n”because the first set of strokes' corresponding text is “tur.”).

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 14 shows an exemplaryfunctional block diagram of an electronic device 1400 configured inaccordance with the principles of the various described embodiments. Inaccordance with some embodiments, the functional blocks of electronicdevice 1400 are configured to perform the techniques described above.The functional blocks of the device 1400 are, optionally, implemented byhardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software to carryout the principles of the various described examples. It is understoodby persons of skill in the art that the functional blocks described inFIG. 14 are, optionally, combined or separated into sub-blocks toimplement the principles of the various described examples. Therefore,the description herein optionally supports any possible combination orseparation or further definition of the functional blocks describedherein.

As shown in FIG. 14, an electronic device 1400 includes a display unit1402, a touch sensitive surface unit 1404, rotatable input mechanismunit 1406, and a processing unit 1408 coupled to the a display unit1402, a touch sensitive surface unit 1404, rotatable input mechanismunit 1406. In some embodiments, the processing unit 1408 includes adisplay enabling unit 1410, a receiving unit 1412, and a determiningunit 1414.

The processing unit 1408 is configured to: enable display (e.g., usingdisplay enabling unit 1410) of a user input interface on the display1402 including a message area and a stroke input area; receive (e.g.,using receiving unit 1412) a first set of strokes on the touch sensitivesurface in the stroke input area; start to determine (e.g., usingdetermining unit 1414) first text based on the first set of strokes;without enabling display of the first text in the message area, receive(e.g., using receiving unit 1412) a second set of strokes on the touchsensitive surface in the stroke input area after receiving the first setof strokes; determine (e.g., using determining unit 1414) revised firsttext based on the first set and second set of strokes; and enabledisplay (e.g., using display enabling unit 1410) of the revised firsttext in the message area.

In some embodiments, the revised first text includes a first characterand wherein the first character is not based on the second set ofstrokes.

In some embodiments, the revised first text includes a plurality ofcharacters and wherein the plurality of characters are based on thefirst set of strokes.

In some embodiments, the revised first text includes a second characterand wherein the second character is not based on the first set ofstrokes.

In some embodiments, the revised first text is a single character.

In some embodiments, the revised first text is a single word.

In some embodiments, the first set of strokes are entered in a locationon the stroke input area substantially the same as a location in thestroke input area where the second set of strokes are entered.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 1408 is further configured to:determine (e.g., using determining unit 1414) first text based on thefirst set of strokes before receiving the second set of strokes.

In some embodiments, the revised first text includes a first portionbased on the shape of the first set of strokes and context provided bythe second set of strokes.

In some embodiments, the revised first text includes a first portionbased on the shape of the second set of strokes and context provided bythe first set of strokes.

The operations described above with reference to FIG. 13 are,optionally, implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B or FIG.14. For example, receiving operation 1304 is, optionally, implemented byevent sorter 170, event recognizer 180, and event handler 190. Eventmonitor 171 in event sorter 170 detects a contact on touch-sensitivedisplay 112, and event dispatcher module 174 delivers the eventinformation to application 136-1. A respective event recognizer 180 ofapplication 136-1 compares the event information to respective eventdefinitions 186, and determines whether a first contact at a firstlocation on the touch-sensitive surface corresponds to a predefinedevent or sub event, such as activation of an affordance on a userinterface. When a respective predefined event or sub-event is detected,event recognizer 180 activates an event handler 190 associated with thedetection of the event or sub-event. Event handler 190 optionallyutilizes or calls data updater 176 or object updater 177 to update theapplication internal state 192. In some embodiments, event handler 190accesses a respective GUI updater 178 to update what is displayed by theapplication. Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinaryskill in the art how other processes can be implemented based on thecomponents depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B.

FIGS. 15A-15J illustrate exemplary user interfaces for handwriting onscreens, in accordance with some embodiments. The user interfaces inthese figures are used to illustrate the processes described below,including the processes in FIG. 16.

FIG. 15A depicts handwriting interface 610 after electronic device 600has received set of strokes corresponding to set-of-strokesrepresentation 1502, which includes the stroke corresponding to strokerepresentation 1503 and the stroke corresponding to strokerepresentation 1504, which are the last two strokes, respectively, to bereceived in FIG. 15A. Set-of-strokes representation 1502 represents alogographic character (e.g., a simplified Chinese character). Becauseoverlapping logographic characters can contain many strokes and bedifficult to analyze (e.g., see FIG. 15E for an example of just twooverlapping logographic characters), electronic device 600 determinesthe corresponding logographic character when all of the strokes for alogographic character have been received based on the time betweenstrokes that are received.

With respect to the strokes corresponding to stroke representations 1503and 1504, a determination is made as to whether the time between thestrokes (e.g., the time when the stroke corresponding to strokerepresentation 1503 was completed to the time when the strokecorresponding to stroke representation 1504 was started) exceeds athreshold value. If the time does not exceed the threshold, the strokescorresponding to stroke representations 1503 and 1504 are includedtogether in the same set, as depicted in FIG. 15A.

If the time between the next stroke (i.e., the stroke corresponding tostroke representation 1506 of FIG. 15B) and the stroke corresponding tostroke representation 1504 exceeds the threshold, then the set ofstrokes corresponding to set-of-strokes representation 1502 will beanalyzed as a set together, without the stroke corresponding to strokerepresentation 1506, to determine corresponding logographic character1508. The stroke corresponding to stroke representation 1506 will beadded to the set of strokes (set of strokes corresponding toset-of-stokes representation 1510 of FIG. 15C) for the subsequentcharacter depicted in FIG. 15C. This method, which is also describedwith respect to FIG. 16, enables electronic device 600 to save batterypower by avoiding processing of multiple logographic characters at thesame time.

This technique can also be used to disambiguate strokes representingphonetic characters as well as logographic characters. For example, FIG.15F depicts handwriting interface 610 after electronic device 600 hasreceived text 1514 and the stroke corresponding to stroke representation1516. In FIG. 15G, a subsequent stroke, the stroke corresponding tostroke representation 1518, is received. Based on the time between thestroke corresponding to stroke representation 1516 and the strokecorresponding to stroke representation 1518, electronic device 600 candetermine whether the strokes corresponding to stroke representations1516 and 1518 were intended to be the letter “k” to spell the word“cook” (text 1516 of FIG. 15H) or whether the strokes corresponding tostroke representations 1516 and 1518 are two separate characters and theintent was to spell “cool” (text 1520 of FIG. 15J).

If the time between the strokes exceeds a threshold value, electronicdevice 600 treats the strokes corresponding to stroke representations1516 and 1518 as parts of different characters, as depicted in FIG. 15H.The stroke corresponding to stroke representation 1518 can then beseparately analyzed to produce, for example, the letter “c” as part ofthe word “car” (text 1518 of FIG. 15H). If the time between strokes isdoes not exceed the threshold value, strokes 1516 and 1518 are treatedas part of the same character, as depicted in FIG. 15J.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for handwriting on atouch sensitive surface using an electronic device in accordance withsome embodiments. Method 1600 is performed at a device (e.g., 100, 300,500) with a display, a touch sensitive surface, and a rotatable inputdevice. Some operations in method 1600 are, optionally, combined, theorder of some operations are, optionally, changed, and some operationsare, optionally, omitted.

As described below, method 1600 provides an intuitive way forhandwriting on touch sensitive surfaces. The method reduces thecognitive burden on a user for handwriting on touch sensitive surfaces,thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. Forbattery-operated computing devices, enabling a user to enter handwritingon touch sensitive surfaces faster and more efficiently conserves powerand increases the time between battery charges.

The electronic device displays (1602) a user input interface (e.g. 610)on the display including a message area (e.g., 609) and a stroke inputarea (e.g., 608) (e.g., an area of the display and touch sensitivesurface that detects and displays strokes received from the user via afinger, stylus, or other object). In some examples, the message area andthe stroke input area are partially overlapping. In some examples, themessage area is completely within the stroke input area. In someexamples, the message area and stroke input area share a boundary but donot overlap each other. In some examples, the message area and strokeinput area are spaced apart. In some examples the touch sensitivesurface is less than 2 in×2 in, less than 1.5 in×1.5 in, or less than 1in×1 in.

The electronic device receives (1604), on the touch sensitive surface inthe stroke input area, a first stroke (e.g., stroke 1504). In someexamples, the first stroke is the latest of multiple strokes.

The electronic device, at a first time after receiving the first stroke,receives (1606) on the touch sensitive surface a second stroke (e.g.,1506). The second stroke is distinct from the first stroke (e.g., thefirst and second strokes are not the same and are not different parts ofthe same stroke).

The electronic device determines (1608) whether the first time exceeds athreshold time (e.g., whether the time from the end of stroke 1504 tothe start of stroke 1506 is greater than a threshold value).

In accordance with the electronic device determining that the first timeexceeds the threshold time, the electronic device determines (1610) afirst character (e.g., character 1508) based on the first stroke (e.g.,1504) but not the second stroke (e.g., 1506).

In accordance with the electronic device determining that the first time(e.g., using stroke 1503 as the first stroke and stroke 1504 as thesecond stroke) is less than the threshold time, determining (1612) afirst character (e.g., character 1508) based on the first stroke (e.g.,1503) and the second stroke (e.g., 1504) (e.g., in addition to the otherstrokes of set of strokes 1502).

The electronic device displays (1614) the first character (e.g.,character 1508) in the message area.

In accordance with some embodiments, the electronic device, further inaccordance with a determination that the first time exceeds thethreshold time, determines a second character (e.g., character 1512)based on the second stroke (e.g., 1506). The electronic device displaysthe second character (e.g., character 1512) in the message area with thefirst character.

In accordance with some embodiments, the display of the first characterand the second character are separated by a space (e.g., FIG. 15I).

In accordance with some embodiments, the first character is a phoneticcharacter (e.g., FIGS. 15H and 15J).

In accordance with some embodiments, the first character is alogographic character (e.g., character 1508).

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 17 shows an exemplaryfunctional block diagram of an electronic device 1700 configured inaccordance with the principles of the various described embodiments. Inaccordance with some embodiments, the functional blocks of electronicdevice 1700 are configured to perform the techniques described above.The functional blocks of the device 1700 are, optionally, implemented byhardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software to carryout the principles of the various described examples. It is understoodby persons of skill in the art that the functional blocks described inFIG. 17 are, optionally, combined or separated into sub-blocks toimplement the principles of the various described examples. Therefore,the description herein optionally supports any possible combination orseparation or further definition of the functional blocks describedherein.

As shown in FIG. 17, an electronic device 1700 includes a display unit1702, a touch sensitive surface unit 1704, rotatable input mechanism1706, and a processing unit 1708 coupled to the a display unit 1702, atouch sensitive surface unit 1704, rotatable input mechanism 1706. Insome embodiments, the processing unit 1708 includes a display enablingunit 1710, a receiving unit 1712, and a determining unit 1714.

The processing unit 1708 is configured to: enable display (e.g., usingdisplay enabling unit 1710) of a user input interface on the displayunit 1702 including a message area and a stroke input area; receive(e.g., using receiving unit 1712), on the touch sensitive surface unit1704 in the stroke input area, a first stroke; at a first time afterreceiving the first stroke, receiving (e.g., using receiving unit 1712)on the touch sensitive surface unit 1704 a second stroke, wherein thesecond stroke is distinct from the first stroke; determine (e.g., usingdetermining unit 1714) whether the first time exceeds a threshold time;in accordance with a determination that the first time exceeds thethreshold time, determine (e.g., using determining unit 1714) a firstcharacter based on the first stroke but not the second stroke; inaccordance with a determination that the first time is less than thethreshold time, determine (e.g., using determining unit 1714) a firstcharacter based on the first stroke and the second stroke; and enabledisplay (e.g., using display enabling unit 1710) of the first characterin the message area.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 1708 is further configured to:further in accordance with a determination that the first time exceedsthe threshold time, determine (e.g., using determining unit 1714) asecond character based on the second stroke; and enable display (e.g.,using display enabling unit 1710) of the second character in the messagearea with the first character.

In some embodiments, the display of the first character and the secondcharacter are separated by a space.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 1708 is further configured to:determine (e.g., using determining unit 1714) context associated withthe first character; determine (e.g., using determining unit 1714) thesecond character is further based on the context.

In some embodiments, the first character is a phonetic character.

In some embodiments, the first character is a logographic character.

The operations described above with reference to FIG. 16 are,optionally, implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B or FIG.17. For example, receiving operation 1604 is, optionally, implemented byevent sorter 170, event recognizer 180, and event handler 190. Eventmonitor 171 in event sorter 170 detects a contact on touch-sensitivedisplay 112, and event dispatcher module 174 delivers the eventinformation to application 136-1. A respective event recognizer 180 ofapplication 136-1 compares the event information to respective eventdefinitions 186, and determines whether a first contact at a firstlocation on the touch-sensitive surface corresponds to a predefinedevent or sub event, such as activation of an affordance on a userinterface. When a respective predefined event or sub-event is detected,event recognizer 180 activates an event handler 190 associated with thedetection of the event or sub-event. Event handler 190 optionallyutilizes or calls data updater 176 or object updater 177 to update theapplication internal state 192. In some embodiments, event handler 190accesses a respective GUI updater 178 to update what is displayed by theapplication. Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinaryskill in the art how other processes can be implemented based on thecomponents depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modificationsand variations are possible in view of the above teachings. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the techniques and their practical applications. Othersskilled in the art are thereby enabled to best utilize the techniquesand various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

Although the disclosure and examples have been fully described withreference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that variouschanges and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in theart. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as beingincluded within the scope of the disclosure and examples as defined bythe claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device, comprising: a display; atouch sensitive surface; one or more processors; and memory storing oneor more programs configured to be executed by the one or moreprocessors, the one or more programs including instructions for:displaying a user input interface on the display including a text areaand a stroke input area, wherein the text area does not overlap thestroke input area; receiving a first set of strokes on the touch screenin the stroke input area; determining first text based on the first setof strokes; displaying the first text in the text area; receiving asecond set of strokes on the touch screen in the stroke input area afterreceiving the first set of strokes and displaying the first text,wherein the second set of strokes is received after a period of timesince receiving the first set of strokes; in accordance with adetermination that the period of time since receiving the first set ofstrokes is below a threshold value: determining revised first text basedon the first set of strokes and the second set of strokes; and replacingthe display of the first text with the revised first text; and inaccordance with a determination that the period of time since receivingthe first set of strokes exceeds the threshold value: determining secondtext based on the second set of strokes independent of the first set ofstrokes; and displaying the second text in the text area.
 2. Theelectronic device of claim 1, wherein displaying the first text occursbefore receiving the second set of strokes.
 3. The electronic device ofclaim 1, wherein determining the revised first text is further based ona current context of the electronic device at the time of thedetermination of the revised first text.
 4. The electronic device ofclaim 1 further comprising; after receiving the second set of strokesand after displaying the revised first text, receiving a third set ofstrokes on the touch screen in the stroke input area; determining secondtext based on the third set of strokes; and displaying the second textwith the revised first text.
 5. The electronic device of claim 1,wherein the first set of strokes is a single continuous stroke and thefirst text is a single character.
 6. The electronic device of claim 1,wherein the second set of strokes is a single continuous stroke.
 7. Theelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the revised first text differsfrom the first text by only a single character.
 8. The electronic deviceof claim 1, wherein the revised first text differs from the first textby only a last character of the revised first text or the first text. 9.The electronic device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of thesecond set of strokes overlaps the first set of strokes.
 10. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or moreprograms configured to be executed by one or more processors of anelectronic device with a display and a touch sensitive surface, the oneor more programs including instructions for: displaying a user inputinterface on the display including a text area and a stroke input area,wherein the text area does not overlap the stroke input area; receivinga first set of strokes on the touch screen in the stroke input area;determining first text based on the first set of strokes; displaying thefirst text in the text area; receiving a second set of strokes on thetouch screen in the stroke input area after receiving the first set ofstrokes and displaying the first text, wherein the second set of strokesis received after a period of time since receiving the first set ofstrokes; in accordance with a determination that the period of timesince receiving the first set of strokes is below a threshold value:determining revised first text based on the first set of strokes and thesecond set of strokes; and replacing the display of the first text withthe revised first text; and in accordance with a determination that theperiod of time since receiving the first set of strokes exceeds thethreshold value: determining second text based on the second set ofstrokes independent of the first set of strokes; and displaying thesecond text in the text area.
 11. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium of claim 10, wherein displaying the first text occursbefore receiving the second set of strokes.
 12. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein determining therevised first text is further based on a current context of theelectronic device at the time of the determination of the revised firsttext.
 13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim10 further comprising; after receiving the second set of strokes andafter displaying the revised first text, receiving a third set ofstrokes on the touch screen in the stroke input area; determining secondtext based on the third set of strokes; and displaying the second textwith the revised first text.
 14. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium of claim 10, wherein the first set of strokes is a singlecontinuous stroke and the first text is a single character.
 15. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein thesecond set of strokes is a single continuous stroke.
 16. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein therevised first text differs from the first text by only a singlecharacter.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 10, wherein the revised first text differs from the first text byonly a last character of the revised first text or the first text. 18.The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, whereinat least a portion of the second set of strokes overlaps the first setof strokes.
 19. A method, comprising: at an electronic device having oneor more processors, a touch screen and a display: displaying a userinput interface on the display including a text area and a stroke inputarea, wherein the text area does not overlap the stroke input area;receiving a first set of strokes on the touch screen in the stroke inputarea; determining first text based on the first set of strokes;displaying the first text in the text area; receiving a second set ofstrokes on the touch screen in the stroke input area after receiving thefirst set of strokes and displaying the first text, wherein the secondset of strokes is received after a period of time since receiving thefirst set of strokes; in accordance with a determination that the periodof time since receiving the first set of strokes is below a thresholdvalue: determining revised first text based on the first set of strokesand the second set of strokes; and replacing the display of the firsttext with the revised first text; and in accordance with a determinationthat the period of time since receiving the first set of strokes exceedsthe threshold value: determining second text based on the second set ofstrokes independent of the first set of strokes; and displaying thesecond text in the text area.
 20. The method of claim 19, whereindisplaying the first text occurs before receiving the second set ofstrokes.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein determining the revisedfirst text is further based on a current context of the electronicdevice at the time of the determination of the revised first text. 22.The method of claim 19 further comprising; after receiving the secondset of strokes and after displaying the revised first text, receiving athird set of strokes on the touch screen in the stroke input area;determining second text based on the third set of strokes; anddisplaying the second text with the revised first text.
 23. The methodof claim 19, wherein the first set of strokes is a single continuousstroke and the first text is a single character.
 24. The method of claim19, wherein the second set of strokes is a single continuous stroke. 25.The method of claim 19, wherein the revised first text differs from thefirst text by only a single character.
 26. The method of claim 19,wherein the revised first text differs from the first text by only alast character of the revised first text or the first text.
 27. Themethod of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the second set ofstrokes overlaps the first set of strokes.